Beyond

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


When the amendment passed women were overjoyed, because they had achieved the goal which they had worked towards for more than 50 years, the right to vote.  

Right after the amendment was ratified, voter participation in general decreased. And women tended to follow the male in the family’s vote. 

The prejudiced viewpoints of some men and women at the time didn’t change right away. When the amendment was ratified campaigns were set up against the ratification of the amendment. 

A Slight

Suffragists were slighted because the Secretary of State, Bainbridge Colby, signed the 19th Amendment with only his assistant as witness. Then Alice Paul was told to visit the State Department for pictures later, when she arrived Carrie Chapman Catt, member of a Conservative suffragist group, left Colby’s office with a photographer. He then had a meeting with the Spanish ambassador. The suffragists left after hours of waiting, never meeting with a photographer.  

Voting Today

As women grew to partake in politics more, they passed changes such as equal pay, advanced education, and reproductive rights. The U.S. values all that Anthony represented and honors her. Anthony was commemorated by a coin that was minted in 1979-1981 and again in 1999 because of her efforts. 

According to statistics, more women report voting than men who vote. In 1980, 59.4% of eligible female voters participated and 59.1% of males voted. This was the first-time voter participation balanced. 

Still, even today equal pay and job advancement for women could be improved. Even now, when people think of the suffrage movement, they think of Susan B. Anthony, the face of suffrage. 

Voter Turnout Rates up to 2008. National VEP Turnout Rates 1787-Present, Pew Research Center.

This is a suffrage booth, but there were anti-suffragist booths as well. Booth at State Fair, Where Richmond Women are Telling Visitors About Great Suffrage Movement, Library of Congress.

Susan B. Anthony. Anthony, Susan B., Encyclopedia Britannica.

Dollar coin with Anthony's face. Susan B. Anthony Dollars, Susan B. Anthony Dollar.

Anthony's grave is honored with "I Voted" stickers. Susan B. Anthony's grave is covered with "I Voted" stickers in Rochester, N.Y., on Tuesday., National Public Radio.