Answer:
Explanation: In 1848, at the Seneca Falls Convention, the women’s rights movement formalized its
position with the publication of the “Declaration of Sentiments.” The document listed a series of
economic, political, and social grievances, pointing out women were not allowed to own
property and earned less money than men. As the 19 th century progressed, organizations like the
National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) and the American Woman Suffrage Association
(AWSA) were founded to promote suffrage. Meanwhile, the role of women in society began to
change as the country dealt with the Civil War, Reconstruction and later, World War I. Many
women’s rights advocates worked closely with the abolitionist cause to secure suffrage for
African Americans. African American men were granted the right to vote in 1870 with the
passage of the 15 th Amendment. However, it was not until 1920 that women earned the right to
vote after the ratification of the 19 th Amendment.
It might be difficult for students to envision a time when women were not allowed to vote
in the United States. This lesson lets students examine primary and secondary source documents
from the 19 th and early 20 th centuries, which illustrate some of the commonly held beliefs among
those who supported and opposed women’s suffrage. Students will be asked to discuss some of
their own opinions about women’s role in society and will write their own amendment for
women’s rights.
