The Women's Rights Movement

What was the Women’s Rights Movement?

Did you know women didn’t get the same rights as men until 1920? Read more to find out about Women’s Suffrage! The Women’s Suffrage movement starting in 1848 to 1920 impacted Women’s Rights. During that time, women didn’t have the right to vote, they didn’t get paid as much as men, and they didn’t get and education. Women fought for these rights and in 1920, they got them.

Women Needed Rights

Women wanted rights. They wanted to see a change. Women wished for the same rights as men. They wanted this change because women suffered every day, which is why this was called the Women’s Suffrage movement. Young girls didn’t have the right to education, older women didn’t have voting rights, and elderly women didn’t have the right to go to work. Women wanted their suffering to end. They did not have rights before August 26, 1920. Women were so desperate that activist Susan B. Anthony illegally voted in a presidential election. She knew the costs, and she was willing to be arrested for Women’s Rights.

The 19th Amendment and NAWSA

There were two major activist groups that helped women get rights: The National Women’s Suffrage Association (NWSA) and the American Women Suffrage Association (AWSA). These groups merged into the National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Lucy Stone, the first president of NAWSA did speeches with the other members, and those speeches influenced the majority of the US to give women rights. During the time before 1920, the government did not support Women’s Rights. President Woodrow Wilson did not pass the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, so women kept on protesting. Finally, in 1918 Wilson passed the 19th Amendment, and women got rights.

Rights for Women!

New laws were put in place after Woodrow Wilson passed the Amendment. Women got education, the right to work, and most importantly the right to vote. Some men were angry about the change for the country. They still abused women, and other men banished them. But those men were now arrested, because after 1920, it was illegal to do so. After a couple years though, people got used to the change, and women became part of our everyday society. Now, people can’t imagine a world with Women’s Suffrage.

Conclusion

Women wanted to see equality among genders, and finally, President Woodrow Wilson passed the 19th Amendment, giving women rights. Now you know why women suffered so much, and how women got rights.