Woodrow Wilson and the Suffrage Movement
The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) was formed on May 15, 1869 (143 years ago today) in New York City. It was created in response to a split in the American Equal Rights Association over whether the woman's movement should support the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution (giving the vote to all men regardless or race). NWSA founders, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, opposed the Fifteenth Amendment unless it included the vote for women. The NWSA worked to secure women's enfranchisement through a federal constitutional amendment, while its rival, the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA), believed success could be more easily achieved through state-by-state campaigns. In 1890 the NWSA and the AWSA merged to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).
Many years later in 1917, following the entry of the United States into the first world war, suffragists strongly felt that if America could defend democracy abroad, it should exist at home in the form of the vote for women. Beginning in early 1917, a small but determined group of militant suffragists led by Alice Paul began to picket the White House, urging President Woodrow Wilson to support a Constitutional amendment to give women the right to vote. The called themselves the "Silent Sentinels" and a rotating group of women stood at the White House gates for months. They carried signs intended to challenge President Wilson on this issue.
At first, Wilson treated the picketers in a patronizing manner. He tipped his hat and smiled and even invited them in for coffee. But as time went on, his attitude changed. In late June 1917, six women were arrested. Eleven more were detained on July 4. Ten days later, a third group was taken into custody. All the women were charged with "obstructing traffic." The protesters were sentenced to 60 days in the workhouse. Prison conditions were draconian and many of the women suffered beatings, forced feeding, and unsanitary conditions. But the pickets - and the arrests - continued. In August, scuffles broke out right in front of the White House gates. For three days suffragists were dragged, punched and choked by angry crowds. City police stood by, refusing to intervene.
Wilson eventually got the message that the problem was not going to go away. Gradually, he began modifying his position. But it would take a world war would bring the president fully behind efforts to secure a federal amendment for womenís suffrage. Wilson called the protesters' methods "insulting, unfeminine, and unpatriotic." Howvever there were other suffrage supporters who shunned confrontational tactics. This group, led by Carrie Chapman Catt, embraced the war as an opportunity for women to earn the vote through their patriotism. On the eve of a Congressional vote on the womenís suffrage amendment, Catt made a personal plea to the president. Her appeal worked. Addressing the Senate, Wilson finally spoke out in favor of the suffrage amendment.
The issued was brought before the House on January 10, 1918. During the previous evening, President Wilson made a strong and widely publicized appeal to the House to pass the amendment. It was passed by the required two-thirds of the House, with only one vote to spare. The vote was then carried into the Senate. Wilson again made an appeal, but on September 30, 1918, the proposal fell two votes short of passage. On February 10, 1919, it was again voted upon and failed by only one vote.
There was considerable desire among politicians of both parties to have the proposal made part of the Constitution before the 1920 general elections, so the President called a special session of the Congress so the proposal would be brought before the House again. On May 21, 1919, it passed the House, 42 votes more than necessary being obtained. On June 4, 1919, it was brought before the Senate and, after a long discussion, it was passed by a vote of 56 to 25. Within a few days, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan ratified the amendment, their legislatures being in session. Other states followed suit at a regular pace, until the amendment had been ratified by 35 of the necessary 36 state legislatures. On August 18, 1920, Tennessee narrowly approved the Nineteenth Amendment, with 50 of 99 members of the Tennessee House of Representatives voting yes. This provided the final ratification necessary to enact the amendment.
Many years later in 1917, following the entry of the United States into the first world war, suffragists strongly felt that if America could defend democracy abroad, it should exist at home in the form of the vote for women. Beginning in early 1917, a small but determined group of militant suffragists led by Alice Paul began to picket the White House, urging President Woodrow Wilson to support a Constitutional amendment to give women the right to vote. The called themselves the "Silent Sentinels" and a rotating group of women stood at the White House gates for months. They carried signs intended to challenge President Wilson on this issue.
At first, Wilson treated the picketers in a patronizing manner. He tipped his hat and smiled and even invited them in for coffee. But as time went on, his attitude changed. In late June 1917, six women were arrested. Eleven more were detained on July 4. Ten days later, a third group was taken into custody. All the women were charged with "obstructing traffic." The protesters were sentenced to 60 days in the workhouse. Prison conditions were draconian and many of the women suffered beatings, forced feeding, and unsanitary conditions. But the pickets - and the arrests - continued. In August, scuffles broke out right in front of the White House gates. For three days suffragists were dragged, punched and choked by angry crowds. City police stood by, refusing to intervene.
Wilson eventually got the message that the problem was not going to go away. Gradually, he began modifying his position. But it would take a world war would bring the president fully behind efforts to secure a federal amendment for womenís suffrage. Wilson called the protesters' methods "insulting, unfeminine, and unpatriotic." Howvever there were other suffrage supporters who shunned confrontational tactics. This group, led by Carrie Chapman Catt, embraced the war as an opportunity for women to earn the vote through their patriotism. On the eve of a Congressional vote on the womenís suffrage amendment, Catt made a personal plea to the president. Her appeal worked. Addressing the Senate, Wilson finally spoke out in favor of the suffrage amendment.
The issued was brought before the House on January 10, 1918. During the previous evening, President Wilson made a strong and widely publicized appeal to the House to pass the amendment. It was passed by the required two-thirds of the House, with only one vote to spare. The vote was then carried into the Senate. Wilson again made an appeal, but on September 30, 1918, the proposal fell two votes short of passage. On February 10, 1919, it was again voted upon and failed by only one vote.
There was considerable desire among politicians of both parties to have the proposal made part of the Constitution before the 1920 general elections, so the President called a special session of the Congress so the proposal would be brought before the House again. On May 21, 1919, it passed the House, 42 votes more than necessary being obtained. On June 4, 1919, it was brought before the Senate and, after a long discussion, it was passed by a vote of 56 to 25. Within a few days, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan ratified the amendment, their legislatures being in session. Other states followed suit at a regular pace, until the amendment had been ratified by 35 of the necessary 36 state legislatures. On August 18, 1920, Tennessee narrowly approved the Nineteenth Amendment, with 50 of 99 members of the Tennessee House of Representatives voting yes. This provided the final ratification necessary to enact the amendment.