During the late 1910’s, women did not yet have the right to vote, but suffragettes, like

Alice Paul, began working toward a better America for women. During these trying years,

activists for women’s rights endured numerous hardships and public ridicule. Slanderous

propaganda suggested that women were communists. Some were tortured. Still, others lost their

lives in the struggle. Few people understand the sacrifice made by these women, a sacrifice that

ensured future generations of women would have a voice that was heard. Although women's

suffrage in America was a terrible experience due to events such as unfair imprisonments, poor

treatment and unnecessary suffering, the outcome was tremendous, resulting not only in their

right …show more content…
These grassroots efforts were not well

received, getting them off to a very slow start (History.) Momentum soon picked up as more and

more women began to stand up for their rights. Some of the most important moments in the

fight for women’s rights occurred during the time of the 28th President, Woodrow Wilson. The

unfair and unequal treatment of women made it to the national stage. The issue of inequality was

in everyone’s face.

Everything started to change, and women were making that change. By the end of the 19th

century, more and more people were joining the cause for Women’s Suffrage. Taking their cue

from the ladies at Seneca Falls, two new groups sprang into action. With the growing interest and

number of people involved, the time for action was at hand. In 1890, the National American

Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) was founded under the leadership of Carrie Chapman

Catt. (National) NAWSA’s membership numbered in the millions by the time Woodrow Wilson

took off. They were a moderate group, working from a more passive point of view. They

Posey Page 3

attempted to enfranchise the female population across the U.S., while lobbying for …show more content…
First introduced in

1878 by California Senator Aaron Sargent, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United

States took forty-one years of protests and suffering to find its place among American freedom.

The U.S. Congress accepted and approved the amendment in 1919 and submitted it to the states

for ratification. In August 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to approve the amendment (and

by a very narrow margin) fulfilling the requirements for ratification. (US) Women finally had a

voice in government, granting them the ability to affect laws and further the progress of women’s

rights. . It opened the door for future legislation that would create more opportunities for women

Posey Page 5

to gain fair treatment. While things have changed for the better, women still do not have full

equality. The struggle for fair wages is still an issue. Though Roe v. Wade set the stage,

women’s reproductive health remains a source of conflict. Victims’ rights for violent crimes, like

rape and spousal abuse are very much underplayed in American society. Some state legislatures

have even tried to redefine rape, placing the responsibility on the victim rather than the