Podcasts > American History Tellers > ENCORE: The Fight for Women's Suffrage | The Trial of Susan B. Anthony | 2

ENCORE: The Fight for Women's Suffrage | The Trial of Susan B. Anthony | 2

By Wondery

The American History Tellers podcast delves into a pivotal era in the women's suffrage movement. It explores the "New Departure" strategy, which argued that existing amendments granted women the right to vote without needing a new amendment. The episode recounts Susan B. Anthony's arrest for illegally voting in 1872 under this theory.

Attendees also learn about the suffragists' tactics, including acts of civil disobedience like women deliberately attempting to vote. The summary also examines the fierce opposition from the liquor industry, including fraudulent voting practices and lobbying to overturn laws granting women's suffrage.

ENCORE: The Fight for Women's Suffrage | The Trial of Susan B. Anthony | 2

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ENCORE: The Fight for Women's Suffrage | The Trial of Susan B. Anthony | 2

1-Page Summary

New Departure Strategy: Arguing Women Didn't Need New Amendment to Vote

In the late 19th century, the "New Departure" strategy emerged, advocating that the 14th Amendment's definition of citizenship implicitly granted women voting rights, without needing a new amendment. Victoria Woodhull first articulated this view in 1871, later adopted by the National Woman Suffrage Association. Virginia Minor sued after being denied voter registration, invoking the 14th Amendment, though the Supreme Court rejected this argument in Minor v. Happersett.

Susan B. Anthony's 1872 Illegal Voting Trial

Susan B. Anthony voted illegally in 1872, inspired by the "New Departure" theory. At her trial, Anthony argued using the 14th Amendment's protection of citizens' rights, but the judge directed a guilty verdict over her objections. Despite being fined, Anthony refused payment, seeking jailtime to appeal to the Supreme Court, though the judge avoided imprisoning her to prevent this.

Strategies: Civil Disobedience and Grassroots Organizing

Suffragists employed civil disobedience tactics like unlawful voting attempts. In 1872, over 150 women, including Sojourner Truth and Susan B. Anthony, tried to vote. Property-owning women protested "taxation without representation" by refusing to pay taxes, resulting in incidents like cows being auctioned.

The movement also leveraged grassroots efforts through public speaking tours by figures like Anthony. They collaborated with groups like the Women's Christian Temperance Union to raise awareness locally.

Opposition From Liquor Industry: Illegal Tactics and Lobbying Against Suffrage

The liquor industry strongly opposed women's suffrage, fearing women voters would support prohibition. In elections, they resorted to distributing illegal ballots omitting suffrage questions and recruiting out-of-state voters.

After Washington Territory granted women's suffrage in 1883, the liquor lobby filed a legal case, overturning this milestone law by 1887 on a technicality. On the federal level, anti-suffrage forces in Congress defeated an amendment Susan B. Anthony had introduced to prevent voter disenfranchisement based on sex.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can explore historical legal documents to understand the evolution of citizens' rights, focusing on amendments like the 14th to see how interpretations have changed over time. By doing this, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the legal battles fought by activists and how constitutional arguments have been used in various social movements.
  • Start a book club with friends or community members to read and discuss biographies of figures like Victoria Woodhull and Susan B. Anthony. This can provide insights into the strategies and personal sacrifices made by suffragists, inspiring discussions on modern parallels in social activism.
  • Engage in role-playing exercises that simulate the experiences of historical figures fighting for their rights, like the suffragists. This can help you empathize with the challenges they faced and the resilience required to persist despite legal setbacks, potentially informing your approach to contemporary advocacy.

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ENCORE: The Fight for Women's Suffrage | The Trial of Susan B. Anthony | 2

Legal Arguments and Court Cases on Women's Suffrage, Featuring "New Departure" Strategy

The "New Departure" legal strategy, advocating that women did not need a new constitutional amendment to vote, emerged as a radical approach in pursuing women's suffrage in the late 19th century.

"New Departure" Strategy Argued Women Didn't Need New Constitutional Amendment to Vote

Virginia Minor: 14th Amendment Grants Women's Voting Rights By Defining Citizenship Without Gender

Victoria Woodhull first articulated the "New Departure" in 1871, arguing before a U.S. House committee that the Fourteenth Amendment implicitly granted women voting rights, due to its definition of citizens without specifying gender. Despite Congress rejecting Woodhull's appeal, the National Woman Suffrage Association adopted this into their official strategy. Virginia Minor subsequently attempted to register to vote in St. Louis, invoking the Fourteenth Amendment. When denied, her husband sued on her behalf; the case "Minor v. Happersett" reached the Supreme Court. Ultimately, the court ruled that suffrage was not one of the citizenship rights protected by the Fourteenth Amendment, leaving it to states to determine voting rights.

Susan B. Anthony Tried For Illegal Voting In 1872 Election

Anthony's Suffrage Trial: Judge Rejects Defense, Directs Conviction

Susan B. Anthony, inspired by the "New Departure" strategy, famously registered and voted in 1872 and faced legal consequences for her actions. Using her trial as a platform, she argued her case using the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment. She emphasized that the Fourteenth Amendment's protection of citizens' rights included women's right to vote. Despite her conviction and the presiding federal judge Ward Hunt directing a guilty verdict without allowing her to testify, Anthony refused to pay the imposed fine, hoping to be jailed to appeal her case to the Supreme Court, though the judge foresaw this and thus did ...

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Legal Arguments and Court Cases on Women's Suffrage, Featuring "New Departure" Strategy

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • By delving into the original texts of amendments and landmark court decisions, you can gain a deeper understanding of the legal framework that shapes your rights. For example, examining the language of the 14th Amendment and the arguments presented in "Minor v. Happersett" can provide insights into how legal arguments are constructed and how they can be used to advocate for change in contemporary issues.
  • Create a social media campaign to share stories of unsung heroes in civil rights movements, focusing on individuals like Virginia Minor who took bold legal steps for equality.
  • Highlighting lesser-known figures who have fought for their rights can inspire others to take action. By using platforms like Instagram or Twitter, you can create posts that detail the actions of these individuals, the legal challenges they faced, and the outcomes of their efforts. This not only educates your followers but also pays homage to those who paved the way for current freedoms and rights.
  • Start a book club focusing on biographies of activists like Susan B. ...

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ENCORE: The Fight for Women's Suffrage | The Trial of Susan B. Anthony | 2

Suffrage Movement Strategies: Civil Disobedience, Grassroots Organizing

Women in the Suffrage Movement utilized various strategies, including civil disobedience and grassroots organizing, to advance their cause towards gaining the right to vote.

Suffragists Used Civil Disobedience, Like Voting Attempts and Tax Refusal, to Promote Their Cause

Suffragists’ civil disobedience took on many forms, like unlawfully attempting to vote, and, in the case of property-owning women, refusing to pay taxes.

1872: Over 150 Women, Including Sojourner Truth and Susan B. Anthony, Tried to Vote

On Election Day in November 1872, over 150 women across America, including notable figures like Sojourner Truth and Susan B. Anthony, went to the polls to cast their votes despite not legally being allowed to do so. Although most were turned away, Susan B. Anthony managed to vote for President Ulysses S. Grant after convincing officials to let her register, citing the "new departure" argument and the Fourteenth Amendment as her rationale.

Some Suffragists Protested Taxation Without Representation By Refusing to Pay Property Taxes

The refusal to pay taxes was a pointed strategy employed by suffragists to protest against their disenfranchisement. The Smith sisters from Glastonbury, Connecticut, followed this approach and publicly declared their tax refusal at a town meeting, which resulted in their cows being auctioned off. Susan B. Anthony further encouraged women to join the tax refusal movement, although the impact was minimal due to few women owning taxable properties at the time. This tactic was symbolically linked to the American Revolution, especially underscored by events like the women’s tea party at Boston’s Faneuil Hall with the slogan "Taxation without representation is tyranny."

Suffragists Used Grassroots Organizing and Public Speaking to Educate and Persuade

In addition to civil disobedience, the Suffrage Movement was characterized by intensive grassroots efforts and public speaking to spread their message.

Susan B. Anthony's Lectures on Suffrage and New Departure Argument

Susan B. Anthony was a significant voice for suffrage and was known for her lecture circuit promoting the cause. Her lectures likely included details on the "new departure" strategy popularized by Victoria Woodhull. This argume ...

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Suffrage Movement Strategies: Civil Disobedience, Grassroots Organizing

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can start a blog or social media page dedicated to sharing lesser-known stories of historical activists, focusing on their strategies and how they can be adapted to modern causes. By doing this, you create a platform that educates and inspires others to take action in their communities, drawing parallels between past and present movements.
  • Create a virtual book club that reads and discusses literature on civil rights movements, ensuring each session ends with a discussion on practical applications of the strategies used in the readings. This encourages continuous learning and the translation of historical tactics to current social issues.
  • Volunteer to teach a local community class on the hi ...

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ENCORE: The Fight for Women's Suffrage | The Trial of Susan B. Anthony | 2

Suffrage Movement Opposition From Liquor Industry

The liquor industry emerged as a formidable foe of the suffrage movement, fearing women voters would advocate for prohibition.

Liquor Industry Feared Suffrage Would Lead To Prohibition

1882: Brewer Association's Illegal Ballot Distribution Leads To Suffrage Question's Defeat

As elections and referendums on women's suffrage arose, opposition from the liquor industry intensified. In Bellevue, Nebraska, during the 1882 election day, a suffrage worker discovered that the suffrage referendum question was absent from the ballot. Upon confronting the bartender who was the polling official, she learned that the Brewers Association had provided specially crafted ballots without the suffrage question. This illegal act of distributing tampered ballots and threats to the bartender’s business demonstrates the industry's actions to deter the suffrage movement. In the same referendum in Nebraska, the beer industry was accused of election fraud by omitting the suffrage question on the ballots, miscounting votes, and stuffing ballot boxes, resulting in the suffrage question winning only one-third of the vote.

Oregon Liquor Industry Sent Washington Men to Vote Against 1884 Suffrage Referendum

In Oregon, during the 1884 suffrage referendum, the liquor industry actively campaigned against suffrage advocate Abigail Scott Dunaway, despite her criticism of prohibition. They employed tactics such as sending men from the Washington Territory to vote in Oregon against the suffrage referendum.

Women's Suffrage Gains Overturned by Liquor Industry

Washington Court Reversed Women's Voting Rights Law In 1887

In a major setback, the Washington Territory had granted women suffrage in 1883, but by 1887, liquor industry interests had managed to reverse this milestone. They filed a legal case, and the territorial Supreme Court rescinde ...

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Suffrage Movement Opposition From Liquor Industry

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can explore the historical impact of lobbying on social movements by researching a current social issue and identifying the key interest groups involved. For example, if you're interested in environmental policy, look into which industries are lobbying for or against certain environmental regulations and what their motivations might be. This will give you a clearer picture of how similar dynamics to those described in the suffrage movement are at play today.
  • You can enhance your critical thinking skills by analyzing local or national elections for signs of undue influence. During an election cycle, pay attention to campaign financing sources, political advertisements, and debates to see if you can spot patterns that suggest a particular industry is trying to sway public opinion or policy, much like the liquor industry did in the past.
  • You can support transparency in politics by using social media to sh ...

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