I REGARD EXTENSION OF SUFFRAGE TO WOMEN AS ESSENTIAL

WILSON FAVORS AMENDMENT GRANTING WOMEN THE VOTE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) A century ago, September 30, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson gave an address to Congress in support of the proposed 19th Amendment* which would guarantee the right to vote nation-wide for women.

The 19th Amendment had been approved by the House of Representatives, but at the time of Wilson's speech had not yet been approved by the Senate.  In his first term, the President had been perceived as ambivalent on the issue of woman suffrage and the White House had been besieged by pickets protesting Wilson's lack of support.  Many suffragettes were arrested and sent to jail.

On September 30, 1918, however, the President's support had been won.  He said to the Members of Congress...

"I regard the concurrence of the Senate in the...extension of suffrage to women as vitally essential....Both of our great national parties are pledged...to equality of suffrage for the women of this country."

*19th Amendment (1920) prohibits states & the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex.

SOURCE

President Woodrow Wilson: Address to the Senate of the 19th Amendment, September 30, 1918, www.public.iastate.edu/

President Wilson Speaks to Congress

Library of Congress Photo

WOMAN TO GRACE $10 BILL IN 2020

WOMAN WILL GRACE $10 BILL ON 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ADOPTION OF 19TH AMENDMENT

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Ninety-five years ago today, August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing the right to vote for women became the law of the land as Tennessee's ratification resulted in the necessary two-thirds, or 36 of 48, of the states to approve.  The year 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of that adoption.

According to UPI, one of the leaders, or suffragettes, of the movement to grant women the right to vote nationwide "could land on the upcoming redesign of the $10 bill."

In June 2015, the Treasury Department announced that on the 100th Anniversary of the adoption  of the 19th Amendment, "a historic female will grace the $10."  Currently, the first Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, is depicted on the bill.

UPI speculates that the choice to replace Hamilton could be Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony or Alice Paul.  Others mentioned as possibilities include Harriett Tubman and Eleanor Roosevelt.

The women's suffrage movement can be traced back to the Seneca Falls Convention held in New York state in 1848.

Whether the choice is a suffragette or otherwise, whoever is selected will become "the first female featured on U.S. paper currency in more than 100 years."

SOURCE

"Passing of 19th Amendment 95 years ago could land suffragette on $10 bill," by Danielle Haynes, UPI, August 18, 2015, www.upi.com/

The Woman Suffrage Memorial*

Market Square

Knoxville, Tennessee

Photo by John White (2008)

*The Woman Suffrage Memorial was dedicated August 26, 2006 by the Suffrage Coalition.  It was created by Alan LeQuire who is best known for his Athena Parthenos in the Parthenon located in Nashville. The Memorial features three leaders of the woman suffrage movement in Tennessee representing the three major divisions of the state:

Lizzie Crozier French of Knoxville 

Anne Dallas Dudley of Nashville

Elizabeth Avery Meriwether of Memphis 

PRESIDENT WASHINGTON SIGNS JAY'S TREATY 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President George Washington signed a treaty with Great Britain 220 years ago today, August 18, 1795, negotiated by Chief Justice John Jay of New York.

The treaty pledged to establish peaceful trade relationship between Great Britain and the United States as well as settling some leftover issues from the War for Independence.

The treaty was officially called the "Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation between His British Majesty and the United States of America".

Jay's Treaty was opposed by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and their supporters.  They saw closer ties between Britain and the United States as detrimental to republicanism.

Jay's Treaty

WILSON FAVORS WOMAN SUFFRAGE

WOODROW WILSON SPEAKS IN FAVOR OF VOTE FOR WOMEN

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On September 30, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson gave an address to Congress in support of the proposed 19th Amendment which would guarantee the right to vote nation-wide for women.

The 19th Amendment had been approved by the House of Representatives, but at the time of Wilson's speech had not yet been approved by the Senate.

President Wilson Speaks to Congress

Library of Congress Photo

In his first term, President Wilson had been perceived as ambivalent on the issue of woman suffrage and the White House had been besieged by pickets protesting Wilson's lack of support.  Many suffragettes were arrested and sent to jail.

New York City Suffrage Parade

October 23, 1915

Library of Congress Photo

On September 30, 1918, however, the President's support had been won.  He said to the Members of Congress...

"I regard the concurrence of the Senate in the...extension of suffrage to women as vitally essential....Both of our great national parties are pledged...to equality of suffrage for the women of this country."

Mr. Wilson continued...

"We have made partners of the women in the war.   Shall we admit them only a partnership of suffering and sacrifice and toil and not to a partnership of privilege and right?"

Woodrow Wilson  linked woman suffrage to the effort to win World War I.

"The tasks of the women lie at the very heart of the war and I know how much stronger that heart will beat if you do this just thing and show our women that you trust in them as much as you...depend on them."

The President's words apparently fell on deaf ears.  The Senate did not pass the 19th Amendment in 1918 but it finally became the law of the land on August 18, 1920 when the state of TENNESSEE was the 36th and deciding state to ratify.

Tennessee State Capitol

Nashville, Tennessee

Photo by John White (2011)

SOURCE

President Woodrow Wilson: Address to the Senate of the 19th Amendment, September 30, 1918, www.public.iastate.edu/