The Long Fight for Women's Suffrage in the United States

Question

1
Imagine living in the country known as the "home of the free" but not having the most fundamental right in a free society—the right to vote. Women in the United States were in that position for more than one hundred years. They could not vote in political elections until the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920. This amendment prohibited denying citizens the right to vote because of their sex. This achievement was the result of the tireless efforts made by several generations of women. Without their hard work and sacrifices, many people would still be deprived of this important right today.

2
The decades-long fight for suffrage, or the right to vote, in the United States began in the mid-19th century. At that time, women did not have many rights. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott believed that women and men should have equal rights. In 1848, they organized the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. During the convention, a list of demands called the Declaration of Sentiments was created. It outlined the primary goals of the women's suffrage movement. The goals included more educational and employment opportunities for women, the right to control their money or property after marriage, and the right to vote.

3
There were two main groups with differing ideas about how to attain those goals. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony formed the National Women's Suffrage Association (NWSA) in 1869. They did not support the campaign for the Fifteenth Amendment, which would give African American men the right to vote, because it excluded women. Women in the NWSA wrote letters to the federal government. They asked for women to be included in the amendment, but they were denied. Lucy Stone, Julia Ward Howe, and Henry Blackwell started the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) that same year. They supported the Fifteenth Amendment. They used a different strategy. Instead of petitioning the federal government, they went to the states individually. They urged each state government to change their constitutions to give women the right to vote in local and state elections.

4
In 1890, the two groups joined forces and formed the National American Woman Suffrage Association. They, along with the National Association for Colored Women and many others, marched, protested, lobbied, lectured, and practiced civil disobedience for women's voting rights. Some even went on hunger strikes. Many women were punished for their participation in the movement. Activists were yelled at, beaten, and jailed for expressing their views. But the cause finally took a turn in 1917 when President Woodrow Wilson began supporting women's suffrage. Three years later, the Nineteenth Amendment was added to the Constitution, legally giving women the right to vote in all elections.

5
Without the determination of the suffragists, American women would not have voting rights. The efforts of suffragists continue to inspire people today. Many still work to ensure that every citizen's voting rights are protected and that women are given equal pay and equal representation in the workplace and in politics.

Multiple Choice Question
Which statement from the article "The Long Fight for Women's Suffrage in the United States" is best supported by the ideas presented in the story?

A.
During the convention, a list of demands called the Declaration of Sentiments was created. (paragraph 2)

B.
There were two main groups with differing ideas about how to attain those goals. (paragraph 3)

C.
Many women were punished for their participation in the movement. (paragraph 4)

D.
The efforts of suffragists continue to inspire people today. (paragraph 5)

Answer 1

The statement from the article "The Long Fight for Women's Suffrage in the United States" that is best supported by the ideas presented in the story is:

D. The efforts of suffragists continue to inspire people today. (paragraph 5)

This choice is supported by the overall message of the article, which emphasizes the lasting impact of the suffragists' work on current efforts to secure voting rights and equality for women. The article concludes by highlighting how their determination continues to influence contemporary movements.