At the turn of the century
Title
At the turn of the century
Description
Doldrums: a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or depression. Or, the women’s suffrage movement at the turn of the 20th century. Of course, it didn’t feel that way at the time. 🧵
By the end of the 19th century, the movement had unified into the National American Woman Suffrage Association. It was a very conservative, very white organization - but its leaders, and other suffragists who weren’t welcome in its ranks - were working hard for the vote.
Still, as the century came to an end, the aging lions were worried. Katy June-Friesen describes ElizCadyStanton & Susan B Anthony’s fear that the young women in the movement didn’t appreciate how easily things could regress.
Women had made strides in the professions, some Western states had full voting rights, many more had school board suffrage. But success moved women from a joke to a threat. New attempts to bar women from public and private employment began to appear.
“The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad adopted a new policy of “promoting from within,†and, to avoid having women in management, fired many female employees.†The American Federation of Labor entertained a resolution calling on Congress to bar women from government jobs.
It didn’t pass, but it was worrying--esp coming from a historical ally. Segregation hardened. African-American women were at double risk as always. “The old Slave Ocrats are bound to push out every man & woman of color from the enjoyment of civil rights,†Anthony wrote Stanton.
As the 19th century came to an end, the road had been so very long. There was so much further to go. #Suffrage100 #VotesforWomenÂ
Thank you @StephenJAdams2 for sending me the piece!
By the end of the 19th century, the movement had unified into the National American Woman Suffrage Association. It was a very conservative, very white organization - but its leaders, and other suffragists who weren’t welcome in its ranks - were working hard for the vote.
Still, as the century came to an end, the aging lions were worried. Katy June-Friesen describes ElizCadyStanton & Susan B Anthony’s fear that the young women in the movement didn’t appreciate how easily things could regress.
Women had made strides in the professions, some Western states had full voting rights, many more had school board suffrage. But success moved women from a joke to a threat. New attempts to bar women from public and private employment began to appear.
“The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad adopted a new policy of “promoting from within,†and, to avoid having women in management, fired many female employees.†The American Federation of Labor entertained a resolution calling on Congress to bar women from government jobs.
It didn’t pass, but it was worrying--esp coming from a historical ally. Segregation hardened. African-American women were at double risk as always. “The old Slave Ocrats are bound to push out every man & woman of color from the enjoyment of civil rights,†Anthony wrote Stanton.
As the 19th century came to an end, the road had been so very long. There was so much further to go. #Suffrage100 #VotesforWomenÂ
Thank you @StephenJAdams2 for sending me the piece!
Creator
Daily Suffragist
Source
Date
14/04/2020
Files
Collection
Citation
Daily Suffragist, “At the turn of the century,” Daily Suffragist, accessed April 18, 2024, https://dailysuffragist.omeka.net/items/show/350.