PETITION TO CONGRESS
FOR WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and
Susan B. Anthony (1865)
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COMMENTARY
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Women had played central roles in the reform movements of the early
nineteenth century. In doing so, they had broken constraints on their access to the
public platform and achieved great visibility for the issues of reform. The Grimke
sisters and Harriet Beecher Stowe were clearly central figures in abolition. In
addition, of course, the women reformers had made the treatment of women in
American culture a part of the reform agenda. Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906),
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) and others had contributed to their demand for
momentum toward greater civil and legal rights for women. However, the Civil iken million
War subdued reform activities, except for triumphant abolition, which had
Sivutuous
become government policy.
Women expected that the emancipation and extension of civil rights to the
freed slaves would open the doors to civil rights for all. They were greatly
disappointed. They faced a host of insurmountable problems. First, a Congress
barely able to approve civil rights without regard to race believed that the vast
majority of Americans, including women, did not favor female enfranchisement.
Even the Seneca Falls convention had divided over the question. They did not
wish to jeopardize the cause by addressing the rights of women. Second, the
women's movement could not disentangle itself from the racial question. Many
former abolitionists, especially males, privately urged female leaders not to
the
complicate the chances of getting the Fourteenth Amendment ratified. During
early months of 1866, while the amendment was being drafted, even such stalwarts
for women's rights as Frederick Douglass and Wendell Phillips privately told
female leaders that “this is the negro's hour.” Finally, the women's movement was
movement had gone into eclipse during the war. It is true that Stanton and
Anthony led the Women's National Loyal League (formed in 1863), and that the
League had endorsed female suffrage. The endorsement, however
, split the
628
in disarray. The last women's convention had been held in 1860, and the
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
629
ady
League, as many of its members wished only to support the war effort. The League
had worked effectively for the Thirteenth Amendment, but it had since disbanded.
Despite the difficulties, the fight reinvigorated the movement. Many
women in the Fourteenth Amendment. Stanton and Anthony organized the
members began petitioning Congress during the winter of 1865-1866 to include
petition drive. Part of their effort was to publicize a standard mass petition, on
which they urged their supporters to gather as many signatures as possible, thus
documenting the quantity of their support. Their "form letter" illustrates not only
their rhetorical appeal, but also a rhetorical practice that is now used extensively
for
by various causes and self-interest groups: making it easy supporters to
inundate Congress with mass petitions by providing a standard petition form for
followers to endorse. The petition is reproduced from Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
Susan B. Anthony and Matilda Joslyn Gage, The History of Woman Suffrage (New
York: Fowler and Wells, 1882), vol. 2, p. 91.
AMENTARY
roles in the reform musta
Petition to Congress for Woman Suffrage
hey had broken constraint
relormers had made the rezi
reform agenda Susan & Andre citizens on the ground of sex.
5-7919 and there
il and legal rights for womentin
eat visibility for the sunset time FORM OF PETITION. - To the Senate and House of Representatives: - The
we were clearly centul fast undersigned women of the United States, respectfully ask an amendment of the
Constitution that shall prohibit the several States from disfranchising any of their
In making our demand for Suffrage, we would call your attention to the fact
that we represent fifteen million people - one-half the entire population of the
country - intelligent, virtuous, native-born American citizens; and yet stand
outside the pale of political recognition. The Constitution classes us as “free
people," and counts us whole persons in the basis of representation; and yet are
we governed without our consent, compelled to pay taxes without appeal, and
punished for violations of law without choice of judge or juror. The experience of
all ages, the Declarations of the Fathers, the Statute Laws of our own day, and the
tearful revolution through which we have just passed, all prove the uncertain
s. cxcept for triumpbz able
emancipation and ameniti
day to ani nehes to do
dansurmonuncube maten
-
without regard to arribats
tenure of life, liberty, and property so long as the ballot - the only weapon of self-
protection - is not in the hand of every citizen.
Therefore, as you are now amending the Constitution, and, in harmony with
advancing civilization, placing new safeguards round the individual rights of four
millions of emancipated slaves, we ask that you extend the right of Suffrage to
constitutional obligation to guarantee to every State in the Union a Republican
Woman - the only remaining class of disfranchised citizens - and thus fulfill your
ever breed a complicated legislation as well as a discontented people, we would
form of Government.” As all partial application of Republican principles must
pray your Honorable Body, in order to simplify the machinery of Government
tax-payers, and not for class or caste. For justice and equality your petitioners will
and ensure domestic tranquility, that you legislate hereafter for persons, citizens,
w did ma tantada
und dunded on the para
--
ever pray.
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