The Suffrage Movement: Would You Have Joined?

By Deborah Stapleton

4th-5th grade (gifted)

AHTC Summer Institute 2008

 

 

Day 2 –  Anti-Suffrage

Some of the images such as photos and political cartoons may be projected on a screen while the text documents should be photocopied for students to closely read. If time does not allow for all students to engage in discussion of all the documents listed below, the teacher may choose to jigsaw the documents and invite cooperative groups to each present their analysis to the whole group. (Photos will not be analyzed.)

 

1.         Students analyze the court trial of Virginia Minor who was denied the right to vote in federal elections by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1874. Guiding question: “How were women perceived in the early 1900’s?”

 

2.         As the ratification date drew near in Tennessee , anti-suffragists tried to persuade others to fight the 19th amendment and women’s right to vote. Students work cooperatively to examine this document keeping the guiding question in mind: “How is the past similar to the present?”

 

3.         Sometimes it is hard to determine if a document is pro-suffrage or anti-suffrage. This document is such a piece and should be examined closely to point out to students the two diametrically opposing points-of-view on the same broadside. Of concern in 1919 was the women’s movement leading to a reopening of Negro rights issues. Compelling question, “How are the past and present different?”

 

4.         Another broadside urging defeat of the 19th amendment in the Tennessee legislature. Compelling question, “How are the past and present different?”

 

5.         Three political cartoons provide rich symbolism to draw together the history of the 19th amendment. Guiding questions: “Is an equal rights amendment necessary in the 21st century? How is the past similar to the present? How is it different?

 

Annotated list of materials and resources for the lesson:

Day 2 - Documents with a negative point of view:

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/minorvhapp.html in 1874 the Supreme Court denies Virginia Minor the right to vote

http://www.tnhistoryforkids.org/students/h_4 an ad in the Nashville Banner newspaper placed by women urging other women to object to the passage of the 19th amendment.

http://idserver.utk.edu/?id=200700000001606  a broadside warning that the passage of the suffrage amendment will reopen the issue of negro suffrage

http://idserver.utk.edu/?id=200700000001609  Tennessee broadside urging defeat of the 19th amendment

http://idserver.utk.edu/?id=200700000001455   anti-suffrage political cartoon, taking it back

http://idserver.utk.edu/?id=200700000001461   anti-suffrage political cartoon, tacks on the road

http://idserver.utk.edu/?id=200700000001452 anti-suffrage political cartoon, pessimist and optimist