key term - Susan B. Anthony

Definition

Susan B. Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement, fighting for women's right to vote in the United States. She dedicated her life to advocating for gender equality and political empowerment of women.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Susan B. Anthony was a co-founder of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, which led the successful campaign to grant women the right to vote.
2. She was arrested and convicted for voting in the 1872 presidential election, as women were not legally allowed to vote at the time.
3. Anthony traveled extensively, delivering speeches and organizing rallies to raise awareness and garner support for the women's suffrage movement.
4. She worked closely with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, another prominent figure in the women's rights movement, to advocate for the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.
5. Even though Anthony did not live to see the Nineteenth Amendment ratified, her tireless efforts and unwavering dedication were instrumental in securing women's suffrage in the United States.

Review Questions

• Explain the significance of Susan B. Anthony's role in the women's suffrage movement.
  • Susan B. Anthony was a central figure in the women's suffrage movement, co-founding the National American Woman Suffrage Association and leading the campaign to grant women the right to vote. She traveled extensively, delivering speeches and organizing rallies to raise awareness and garner support for the cause. Anthony's unwavering dedication and tireless efforts, along with her close collaboration with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, were instrumental in the eventual ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which secured women's suffrage in the United States.
• Describe the legal and political obstacles Susan B. Anthony faced in her pursuit of women's suffrage.
  • Despite the significant progress made by the women's suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony and her fellow activists faced numerous legal and political obstacles in their quest for women's voting rights. Anthony was famously arrested and convicted for voting in the 1872 presidential election, as women were not legally allowed to vote at the time. This incident highlighted the discriminatory laws and societal attitudes that the suffrage movement had to confront. Anthony and her allies also had to navigate a complex political landscape, lobbying lawmakers and building coalitions to secure the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, which was not ratified until 1920, long after Anthony's death.
• Analyze the lasting impact of Susan B. Anthony's contributions to the women's rights movement and its connection to the broader civil rights struggle.
  • Susan B. Anthony's legacy extends far beyond her role in the women's suffrage movement. Her unwavering commitment to gender equality and political empowerment of women has had a lasting impact on the broader civil rights struggle in the United States. Anthony's advocacy for the Equal Rights Amendment, which sought to guarantee equal legal rights regardless of sex, demonstrates her vision for a more inclusive and just society. Moreover, her work in the women's suffrage movement laid the groundwork for subsequent civil rights movements, as the fight for voting rights and political representation is a fundamental aspect of the ongoing struggle for social and economic justice. Anthony's pioneering efforts have inspired generations of activists and continue to shape the ongoing pursuit of civil rights and gender equality in America.

Related terms

Women's Suffrage Movement:

A political movement in the 19th and early 20th centuries that sought to grant women the right to vote, known as women's suffrage.

Nineteenth Amendment: The constitutional amendment that granted American women the right to vote, ratified in 1920 after decades of advocacy by the women's suffrage movement.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA): A proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex, which was championed by Susan B. Anthony and other women's rights activists.