The Progressive-era stands out as a time when reformers sought to address social ills brought about by a rapidly changing society. Debates surrounded issues such as political corruption, the regulation of business practices, racial equality, women's suffrage, and the living conditions of impoverished immigrants overcrowded into urban slums.
When it came to the issue of suffrage, did all women agree? Explain.
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Full Answer Section
Another division within the movement was between white suffragists and women of color. Black women, for example, faced additional barriers to voting, such as poll taxes and literacy tests. White suffragists did not always address these issues in their campaigns.
Despite their differences, women suffragists from all backgrounds worked together to achieve their goal of voting rights. The Nineteenth Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, was passed in 1920.
Here are some specific examples of different perspectives on suffrage during the Progressive Era:
- Susan B. Anthony was a leader of the NAWSA and a strong advocate for women's suffrage. She believed that voting was a fundamental right that belonged to all citizens, regardless of gender.
- Lucy Burns was a leader of the NWP and a more radical suffragist. She believed that women needed to use more aggressive tactics, such as civil disobedience, to achieve their goals.
- Mary Church Terrell was a black suffragist who worked to address the unique challenges faced by women of color. She believed that black women needed to fight for both suffrage and racial equality.
These are just a few examples of the many different perspectives on suffrage that existed during the Progressive Era. The women's suffrage movement was a complex and diverse movement, and it is important to remember that not all women agreed on every issue.
Sample Answer
No, not all women agreed on the issue of suffrage during the Progressive Era. There were a number of different factions within the women's suffrage movement, with different views on how to achieve their goals and what the right to vote would mean for women.
One of the main divisions within the movement was between the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the National Woman's Party (NWP). NAWSA was a more moderate organization that focused on lobbying and education. NWP was a more radical organization that used tactics such as picketing and hunger strikes.