Women’s Rights

19th Amendment – The 19th Amendment was the definitive amendment, which gave women the right to vote in 1920. “No citizen may be denied the right to vote because she is a woman.” This was not the beginning, nor the end of the reform for women’s rights. This reform continues today.

Adams, Abigail, Women's Rights Leader During the Colonial Period – Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, was an outspoken reformer for women’s rights. She constantly tried to persuade early American leaders, like her husband, the importance of reform for the rights of women.

Barton, Clara – Organizer of the first American Red Cross, she was a teacher, nurse, and humanitarian.

Anthony, Susan Brownell -  was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19^th century women’s rights movement to secure women’s sufferage in the united states.

Belle LaFollette, a Wisconsin Suffragist and Politician’s Wife – Belle LaFollette's role as a suffragist had a major impact on the Progressive Era "women's movement."

Brown, Olympia – She was born in Prairie Ronde, Michigan. She attended Mount Holyoke College (then called Mount Holyoke Female Seminary) from 1854-55. She then transferred to, and graduated from, Antioch College in 1860. She was the first woman to graduate at a regularly established theological school (St. Lawrence University) in 1863. In that same year she also became the first woman to achieve full ministerial standing recognized by a denomination, as an ordained Universalist minister. In comparison, Antoinette Brown was ordained as a minister by a Congregationalist Church in 1853, but this was not recognized by her denomination[1]. In 1873 she married John Henry Willis.

Clarenbach, Kathryn F. & the National Organization of Women (NOW) – Clarenbach was powerful writer, an eloquent speaker, and a social reformer on many issues, including the protection of individual rights, justice, and world peace. Many laws in Wisconsin regarding women’s rights were made after lawmakers consulted her. More importantly, she was one of the co-founders of NOW.

Declaration of Sentiments – At the Seneca Falls Convention, the organizers wrote a Declaration of Sentiments, which was modeled on the language of the Declaration of Independence. This was a document that started a revolution for women’s rights.

Dyer, Mary – Mary Dyer was a Puritan, who left England in 1635 to come to Massachusetts. It was in Massachusetts where she encountered, severe persecution by her fellow Puritans. In fact, she would be hung for her beliefs.

Feminism – Feminism was the movement to win political and social equality for women. Any of the feminist leaders, who fought for women’s rights, would also work for a great topic.

Frank, Anne – Survived the holocaust, made famous for her diary she wrote during hiding from the Nazi’s.

Gannett, Deborah Sampson – Deborah Sampson Gannett disguised herself as a man and fought in the Revolutionary War until it was discovered that she was a woman, at which time her military career was ended. Deborah Sampson Gannett came face-to-face with many men, many of them were against having women in the military.

Goodwell, Lavinia, Leader for Female Lawyers in Wisconsin – Lavinia Goodwell, was the first woman lawyer in Wisconsin, and she paved the way for female lawyers.

James, Ada Women's Rights to Vote Leaders – Ada James was one of Wisconsin leading suffragists, a vocal supporter of Susan B. Anthony and women's right to vote.

Lowell System – Francis Cabot Lowell had traveled to Britain before the War of 1812. He came back to the U.S. with two ideas: 1) the water-powered loom; 2) employ young unmarried women from local farms. This was a revolution in the textile industry; moreover, it reformed the workplace and gave women jobs.

Margaret Saenger: Champion of Birth Control – Margaret Saenger was a reformer in the field of birth control. Her work began an exploration in women’s health rights.

Meyer, Anna – In 1944 Anna Meyer, who was only 15 years old at the time, played in a women's Pro-baseball league. She encountered opposition because of her age and because of the all women's leagues to which she belonged.

Seneca Falls Convention – In 1848, the first major meeting to discuss women’s rights was held in Seneca Falls, New York. Lucretia Motts and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were two of the more influential leaders in attendance. This convention was a revolution as well as a reform in the area of women’s rights.

Sewall, May Wright – An educator, suffragist, and peace advocate, May Wright Sewall served as an invaluable ally to such national suffrage leaders as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and gave the woman’s movement an international focus through her pioneering involvement with the American National Council of Women and the International Council of Women.

Wells, Ida B. – Ida B. Wells, (July 16, 1862 – March 25, 1931), later known as Ida Wells-Barnett, was an African American civil rights advocate, and led a strong cause against lynching. She was a fearless anti-lynching crusader, suffragist, women's rights advocate, journalist and speaker.  

Women’s Emancipation – Emma Goldman wrote the tragedy of Women’s Emancipation. It asked for economic justice. It also asked for peace or harmony between the sexes, and for equal rights among men and women.

Women’s Movement – From Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Lucretia Motts to Gloria Steinem, women’s rights have progressed over centuries. It started in Seneca Falls, New York without the countless women that worked very hard, women would not hold the rights they have now.

Women’s Suffrage – Throughout the winter of 1917, Alice Paul and followers in the National Women’s Party stood outside the White House with signs. The signs called for liberty for women. These picketers were assaulted and the police did not protect them.