Campbell Discussion option 2

Laura Mann's timeline was the most organized and thought out of the the three, even though it does not cover as much time as the "History of the American Suffrage movement". Based on our class discussion I felt that starting with Abigail Adams was the right approach because her attempts to help the movement seem ineffectual however they still made the federal government wary about making a law for or against it, therefore they left it up to the states. In 1807 women lose their right to vote in the state of New Jersey which had the most progressive views on allowing women's rights. 

Mann's timeline is useful because of the divisions she places within it to show how the movement switches its approach or appeal. Their first change is by making an alliance with the Quakers. This is smart because Quakers have strong views on equality before other groups.  They also utilize anti-slavery sympathizers because they argue that women and slaves a like are humans and should be allowed a voice (freedom). The next switch that they have is that women begin to organize nationally spreading their ideals about equality. In 1850 women are holding national conventions however by 1861 Susan B. Anthony declares the movement be put on hold until the end of the Civil war. The next change in their approach is when women who are not granted the right to vote while the freed slaves whom they were trying to help are. This sparks a division between black suffrage and women suffrage because blacks finally have their foot in the door and are trying their hardest to push it open so they can utilize the protection of the constitution. Some of the new territories are allowing women to vote while other states ignore ballots cast by women. Now it seems that women must act out of the ordinary to make a point since they have been ignored. Women speak out at conventions sign petitions and do things against the norms of their society to point out how they have been wronged. In the 20th century is when things come to a boiling point. Women are beginning to be put in prison while slowly states are beginning to grant suffrage. President Wilson brings the appeal to congress who pass it with 2/3 vote while the senate declines it by 2 votes. finally in 1920 the Susan B. Anthony amendment is ratified.

Reading Response:

Analyzing Campbell's description of the struggle for the women's right to speak in public we see a common threads that women who spoke publicly were unpious or masculine. Campbell argues that women faced many more difficulties when speaking than med were challenged with. Women who spoke publicly were "strong" women who must offer up an argument and be able to support it and appear knowledgeable. Since women were smaller and less stable, if a woman got excited or passionate about a topic she risked losing her credibility. Women's styles of writing could contradict because of this. This is why they were required to justify every claim that was made.