The 19th Amendment

I watched a four hour in two episodes documentary on NPR about the forty year struggle of the suffragettes to allow the women of America the right to vote. The struggle was also occurring in Europe about the same time. If you are able I would highly recommend trying to find this so you can learn as well. I don’t remember the title, women’ rights? I learned a lot I didn’t know. We are reminded that the Founders did not say anything in the writing of the Constitution about who was eligible to vote. It was left as a State issue to resolve. In the beginning only white men owning property could vote. The percentage voting for Washington was very small. By the early 1900’s a few western States gave them the right, then over the years more would join. Wilson, as a Southern Democrat was opposed. At the end of WWI when he was trying to have his 14 points peace plan approved, advisors counselled him that he would have no success with Europe, who by this time was allowing women to vote. He came out in favor and while the vote in the House was decisive it was only approved in the Senate by one vote. Then it was up to ¾ of the 48 States or 36 to ratify. States one by one approved. The very last State was Tennessee and it was approved by one vote. The solid Democratic Southern States East of the Mississippi was the only section not to approve. Supposedly the reason was that Negro women would be covered. It is obvious that they were able to keep that from happening in the South just as they were able to keep Negro men ostracized. Learning the history of America has been an obsession with me since retiring from the work force and having the time to do so. While we are all in isolation why don’t you do it as well?