The Women’s Suffrage

Movement
A Fight for Equal Rights
 Introduction
What is the Women’s Suffrage
Movement
The women's suffrage movement was a major political and social
movement, which aimed to pursue voting rights for women. In many
countries, women were excluded from voting and had little to none
say in their societies' government. The movement worked to change
these laws and empower women to participate in democratic
processes. It continued for many years, with activists using protests,
petitions, speeches, and even civil disobedience to demand equal
voting [Link] was only one aspect of the movement; it was a
part of a larger fight for female equality in every aspect of life,
including employment, education, and legal rights.
 Key Figures in The Movement

Primary • Susan B. Anthony – A leader in the American suffrage movement.

She co-founded the National Woman Suffrage Association and

Players worked for women’s rights until her death.

• Elizabeth Cady Stanton – One of the first women to speak out for
women’s rights in America. She helped organize the Seneca Falls
Convention in 1848, where the movement began.

• Emmeline Pankhurst – A leader in the British suffrage movement.

She used more extreme methods, like hunger strikes, to fight for
women’s right to vote.

• Alice Paul – A U.S. suffragist who led many protests and marches
for women’s rights. She also helped organize the 1913 Women’s
March on Washington.

• Sojourner Truth – A former enslaved woman who spoke out for

both racial and gender equality. She gave a famous speech called
"Ain't I a Woman?
 • Seneca Falls Convention (1848) – The first major
women’s rights meeting in the U.S. Elizabeth Cady
What inspried Stanton wrote the Declaration of Sentiments, which
demanded women’s right to vote.
the Movement? • The 15th Amendment (1870) – This amendment gave
African American men the right to vote but did not
Key Moments That include women. Many suffragists were upset because
Sparked the Women's they wanted to vote too.

Suffrage Movement • 1913 Women’s March on Washington – Women, led by

Alice Paul, marched in Washington, D.C. to demand
voting rights. They faced violence, but the march
helped bring more attention to their cause.

• World War I (1914-1918) – During the war, women

worked in factories and took on jobs traditionally held
by men. This showed many people that women should
have a voice in politics.
Why was the
Movement
Neccessary “History of
What problems did Women Woman
face? Suffrage”
Before the movement, women had few rights:
• No Voting Rights: Women couldn’t vote on laws
or politicians that affected their lives.
• Limited Jobs: Women were mostly limited to
household work and had few job opportunities.
“Why We
• Lack of Equality: Women were seen as less
Picket”
capable than men and were expected to focus
on home and family, not public life.
Roles of Women
in the
Movement
How women led the fight to
Women were the leaders of the suffrage movement:
vote
• Organizing Protests: Women planned events like marches and
rallies to show their support for voting rights. One of the biggest
was the 1913 march in Washington, D.C.

• Writing and Speaking: Women wrote speeches, articles, and books

to explain why they should be allowed to vote. These writings
helped spread their message.

• Civil Disobedience: Some women, like Alice Paul, went on hunger

strikes or were arrested to draw attention to their cause.
Roles of Men in
the Movement
Men who supported the
Movement
Some men also helped in the fight for women’s voting rights:
• Frederick Douglass – A former slave and abolitionist who
believed in equal rights for both African Americans and
women.

• Henry Blackwell – A male suffragist who worked with his wife,

Lucy Stone, to support women’s rights.

• John Stuart Mill – A philosopher who argued that women

should have the right to vote in England and the U.S.
 How it spread
Womens Suffrage in other
countries
The suffrage movement wasn’t only in the U.S.:
[Link] Kingdom – The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU),
led by Emmeline Pankhurst, fought for women’s right to vote in
Britain. Their protests led to women gaining the vote in 1918.
[Link] Zealand – New Zealand became the first country to give
women the right to vote in 1893.
[Link] – Australia granted women the right to vote in 1902.
[Link] – Canadian women won the right to vote in 1918, though
not all women were included until later.
 Major Milestones
in the US
Important Events in the U.S. Suffrage
Movement
[Link] Falls Convention (1848) – The first meeting to demand equal
rights for women, including the right to vote.
[Link] 15th Amendment (1870) – This gave African American men the
right to vote, but women still could not vote. Many suffragists were
upset about this.
[Link] 19th Amendment (1920) – After years of struggle, women in the
U.S. gained the right to vote with the passing of the 19th
Amendment.
The 19th How Women Won the Right to Vote in
the U.S.
Amendment The 19th Amendment was passed in 1920,
(1920) giving women the right to vote. It was a
major victory after more than 70 years of
campaigning by suffragists. The amendment
said:
• "The right of citizens of the United States
to vote shall not be denied or abridged by
the United States or by any State on
account of sex."
This marked the end of the long fight for
women’s suffrage in the U.S.
 The Legacy of the Women's
Suffrage Movement
What Did the Movement Achieve?
The suffrage movement had a lasting impact:
• Political Change: Women gained the right to vote and became more
involved in politics.
• Inspiration for Future Movements: The suffrage movement inspired other
fights for women’s rights, such as the fight for equal pay, reproductive
rights, and workplace equality.
• More Women in Politics: Today, women are elected to office in many
countries around the world, including the U.S., where we now have
women in the Senate, Congress, and even the Vice Presidency.
The Ongoing What Still Needs to Be
Done?
Struggle for Even after women gained the right
to vote, many challenges remain:
Women’s • Equal Pay: Women still often earn

Rights less than men for doing the same

work.
• Healthcare Rights: In many
places, women continue to fight
for access to birth control,
abortion, and other healthcare
services.
• Representation: Women,
especially women of color, are
still underrepresented in
leadership positions.
 Women's Suffrage
Around the World Today
Global Impact of the Suffrage
Movement
• Countries Where Women Still Struggle: In some countries, like
Saudi Arabia, women only recently gained the right to vote.
• More Women Voting: In most countries, women now vote in
equal numbers to men, and women’s participation in elections
continues to grow.
Video
How Women Examples of Women in
Continue to Shape Politics
• Kamala Harris – First
Politics Today female Vice President of
the United States.
• Jacinda Ardern – Former
Prime Minister of New
Zealand.
• Malala Yousafzai –
Advocate for girls'
education and the
youngest-ever Nobel Prize
laureate.
Challenges and
Wins in Recent
History
Women's Rights Today
Even though women have won many rights, the fight
continues:
• #MeToo Movement – Women have spoken out
about sexual harassment in workplaces and
society.
• Women's Marches – Women around the world
continue to protest for equal rights, including
reproductive rights, pay equality, and better
representation.
Reflection on the Women's
Suffrage Movement
Why It's Important to
Remember
The Women's Suffrage Movement shows us how far
women have come in gaining equality, but it also
reminds us that the fight for equality is ongoing. By
remembering the suffragists, we are inspired to keep
pushing for change.
Conslusion The Road Ahead

The right to vote was a big

win, but there are still many
ways women need to be
treated equally. The suffrage
movement shows
 Resources

Citation: YouTube. (2020, October 10). The women's suffrage movement in the U.S.
[Video]. YouTube. [Link]

Citation: Khan Academy. (2016, September 15). Women’s suffrage in the United States.
[Video]. YouTube. [Link]

Corrine M. McConnaughy. [Link] Woman Suffrage Movement in America : A

[Link]. Retrieved from
[Link]
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