“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
One especially hot afternoon about 170 years ago a group of woman sat over tea discussing the state of woman's rights. It was on this day that they decided to organize a convention which would mark the moment that the woman's rights movement would officially begin.
1848
The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are rights exclusively afforded to men at this time. While owning property was a right married woman held husbands had legal power over their wives to the point of being able to both imprison and beat them without legal recourse.
1890
The woman's right movement is picking up momentum during this time and the National American Woman Suffrage Association is formed. This is also known as the start of The Progressive Era.
At this time a woman's citizenship status was determined through her husband's nationality only. A woman could not naturalize as a US citizen without being married.
1910
Songsheet of 'The March of the Women', 1911. Songsheet in the suffragette colours of purple, green and white, showing women and children marching with the banner of the Women's Social and Political Union, demanding votes for women. This anthem was written by Ethel Smyth in 1911 and was dedicated to Emmeline Pankhurst, a leading campaigner in the suffragette movement.
1920
During this decade woman gained the right to vote and become US citizens on their own accord. A huge leap in the direction of equality but still a long way to go!
