Susan B. Anthony: A Breakthrough Voice Throughout the Fight for Women to Vote

Throughout the long crusade for suffrage there were many barriers to overcome. Many men and some women felt that it was the woman’s job to stay home, tend to the house, and raise the children. Males found women an inferior being, believing they shouldn’t have a say in government matters.  

Between 1861 and 1865, the suffrage movement was put on hold due to the Civil War. Many suffragists felt that it was a woman’s job to help during the war, putting their personal and social goals on hold. 

When the Civil War ended abolitionists worked diligently for African American males to earn voting rights. Suffragists wanted to add a suffrage addition on the 13th Amendment but abolitionists thought that it would distract from their main goal. 

“This is the Negro’s hour.” - Quote during the suffrage movement to put women’s suffrage on hold. 

Anthony and Stanton also allied themselves with those they thought could be beneficial to their cause. These allies weren’t always popular with the general public and often discouraged others from supporting their goals.  

Between the years of 1896-1910 no states adopted the suffrage legislation. This period was called “The Doldrums”.  

Had the first wave of suffragists, including Anthony, not fought to establish suffrage as an ongoing issue, then those later who realized this was a pressing issue would have had to work much harder to establish their claim. Thus, delaying the passing of the 19th Amendment.