Women During the Progressive Era

In the late 1800’s more women began to obtain higher education by attending college

Most women who attended college were part of the middle or upper class

However, after graduating many women still found themselves shut out of many high prestige careers

Women worked as teachers, nurses, journalists, and in industry

Opportunities for Women

Women became some of the most important leaders of the Progressive Era

Lillian Wald founded the Henry Street Settlement to tend to the needs of poor children in New York City

Women were particularly active in the prohibition movement – called for a ban on making, selling, and distributing alcohol

Groups like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and leaders like Cary Nation (who went into saloons in Kansas with a hatchet and a bible) fought to eliminate alcohol in America

Prohibitionists eventually won when the 18th Amendment was passed in 1919. However, it was so unpopular that the amendment was repealed in 1933 when the 21st Amendment was passed.

Political Experience

African-American women also fought for civil rights

Many African-American women joined the National Association of Colored Women (NACW). The NACW campaigned against lynchings, segregation, and poverty.

Civil Rights

Women had been campaigning for suffrage since the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention

Many women were especially angered that the 15th Amendment did not include women

In 1869 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony founded the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA). The NWSA pushed for a constitutional amendment to give women the right to vote.

In 1872 many NWSA women supported Victoria Woodhull, the first female candidate for President

Women’s Suffrage

In 1869 the Wyoming territory became the first to grant women suffrage

Susan B. Anthony fought tirelessly for women’s suffrage In 1872 she led a small group of women in a protest.

The women registered to vote and actually voted on Election day.

Two weeks later she was arrested for unlawfully votingAt her trial the judge refused to allow Anthony to testify

on her own behalfIn 1875 the Supreme Court ruled that women were

citizens, but that citizenship did not grant the right to vote

Women’s Suffrage

Many people were against women’s suffrage for several different reasons

Women’s Suffrage

There were disagreements among women about how to obtain suffrage.One group wanted to work state by state, while others

wanted immediate suffrageIn 1913 Alice Paul and Lucy Burns broke away from the

NWSA and founded the National Woman’s Party (NWP).This group focused on passage of a constitutional

amendment to give women the right to vote In 1917 the NWP picketed the White House and chained

themselves to the railings Iron Jawed AngelsMany of the women were arrested. Some went on hunger

strikes and there was much violence Iron Jawed Angels

Women’s Suffrage

In 1917 the United States entered World War I. During the war women worked for the war effort which led to a weakening in the opposition to suffrage

Under the leadership of Carrie Chapman Catt, the NWSA campaigned for women’s suffrage on the state and national level

In 1920 the 19th Amendment was passed finally giving women the right to vote.

Unfortunately Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and many of the other suffrage fighters were not alive to see passage of the 19th amendment.

Women get the Vote