Susan B. Anthony

I Voted

On election day, anyone eighteen years old or older can be seen wearing an “I Voted” sticker, despite their race, religion, or gender. However, this has not always been possible. Up until the mid-1800s, African Americans did not have the right to vote. Women were not allowed to vote until June of 1919. Many people have fought hard and some are still fighting for equality. Susan B. Anthony was a strong women who devoted her life to achieving equality for women and African Americans. She supported the women’s suffrage movement as well as abolitionism. Her family supported abolitionism as well as the women’s movement. When she grew up she decided to devote her life to these causes. She organized the National Woman's Suffrage Association with her friend, Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She later became the president of the NWSA and wrote books about women’s suffrage. Heroes are courageous people that fight for others. Anthony showed through her work that she cared about fighting for others. Anthony never gave up as an abolitionist and suffragette, even though she underwent torment and abuse from those that did not agree with her. Susan B. Anthony was a dedicated and daring woman, making her an influential person in the fight for equality.

Susan B. Anthony (left) and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (right)https://govbooktalk.gpo.govSusan B Anthony was dedicated to her causes, working throughout her life as a suffragist, a supporter of the temperance movement, and as an abolitionist. Susan B. Anthony was brought up in a Quaker family that believed the consumption of alcohol was wrong. She joined the temperance movement while teaching at a school in New York. “At a Sons of Temperance meeting held in 1853 in Albany she was refused the right to speak. The Sons instructed her to "listen and learn" instead. That same year she and a friend, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, submitted a petition signed by 28,000 people, asking that the sales of alcohol in New York be limited. Anthony was infuriated by the State Legislature's response. In their eyes the petition was meaningless because most of those who signed it were women and children” (McGill, Biography Reference Center). When Anthony was silenced she realized that women needed to be acknowledged as equal. She had joined the women’s suffrage movement the previous year. After these events, she decided to work more for women’s suffrage. Susan B. Anthony’s efforts were overlooked even when she was trying to help others in their movements. This was frustrating to hSusan B. Anthony Attending the Women's Suffrage International Meetinghttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Susan-B-Anthonyer but she was dedicated to the causes that she supported so she persisted in the fight for equality. She worked as an abolitionist and suffragist, persevering even when it was very hard and she was overlooked for her efforts. “In 1865 she began her battle in the content of the 14th and 15th Amendments, hoping to gain the franchise for women as well as for African American males. But her former male allies in the abolitionist struggle brushed her aside, saying the time was not yet ripe for women's suffrage. Saddened but not deterred by this defeat, Anthony worked solely for women's suffrage from this time to the end of her life, organizing the National Woman Suffrage Association with Stanton” (Encyclopedia of World Biography, Gale). Susan supported many movement throughout her life and organized many groups. When she was told that it was not yet time for women’s rights she decided to make that her primary cause. She was dedicated to the movement and spent her whole life supporting it. She knew that in order to see a difference in the way that she was treated, she would have to join the women’s suffrage movement and show people what needed to be done.Anthony was a dedicated woman. Many people thought that what she was doing was wrong so they made her the target of their torment. She did not give up the fight for women's rights even though she became the target for abuse. Susan B. Anthony was dedicated to the movements she supported and fought for changes to be made in the treatment of African Americans and women.

Susan B. Anthony Being Arrested For Attempting To Vote In 1872https://www.usprisonculture.comSusan B. Anthony was a daring women who ventured outside of the societal norm in a time when this was not acceptable. Susan B. Anthony believed that she had the right to vote, as the 14th Amendment stated that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens. She had found a loophole in the amendment even though it was still a law that women could not vote. She urged women to join her and defy the law for their rights.  ”With three of her sisters, Anthony marched in to the local barbershop to register. She read aloud the Amendment, pointing to the fact that the document failed in any way to mention that the privilege of voting was restricted to men… On November 5, Anthony stepped into the voting booth and marked her ballot. On November 28, U.S. Deputy Marshal E.J. Keeney appeared on her doorstep with a warrant for her arrest” (Commire, Historic World Leaders). Susan B. Anthony dared to go against the law and vote because she felt that it was right. She  never turned away from the cause of women’s suffrage even when she knew that she would be denied. Anthony did what she thought was right and was brave enough to stick by her actions. Anthony was one of the first women who went against the societal norm. She did not follow the standards of a woman in the 1800s. She did many things that have  revolutionized culture todaySusan B. Anthony Dollar Coinhttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Susan-B-Anthony.  “In a short time she became known as one of the causes’ most zealous, serious advocates, a dogged and tireless worker whose personality contrasted sharply with that of her friend and coworker Stanton. She was also a prime target of public and newspaper abuse” (“Susan B. Anthony.” Encyclopedia Britannica). Anthony dared to be different, something uncommon of the women of her day. She was a pioneer for women’s rights. Anthony faced many obstacles because of her determination to see a change in the nation. She was daring enough to persevere through it all and has made an impact on our society today.

Susan B. Anthony has had a great influence on our society because of her daring and dedicated work as an abolitionist and suffragist. Anthony dedicated herself to her cause, working throughout her life to make changes for equality.  Although Anthony never lived to see her dream of suffrage for women fulfilled, she impacted the 19th amendment greatly through her work. She accomplished so many things during her lifetime and she is remembered today because of the work that she did that revolutionized the way that women are seen. Susan B. Anthony was daring in a time when it was not accepted. By the end of her life her work was coming to fruition and even after her death women around the nation were, and still are, reaping the rewards of her tireless efforts.

Works Cited

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Susan B. Anthony.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 29 Dec. 2017, www.britannica.com/biography/Susan-B-Anthony.

"Susan Brownell Anthony." Encyclopedia of World Biography, Gale, 1998. Student Resources in Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1631000228/SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=23e0633e. Accessed 13 Feb. 2018.

"Susan B. Anthony." Historic World Leaders, edited by Anne Commire, Gale, 1994. Biography in Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1616000023/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=9b376be3. Accessed 14 Feb. 2018.

McGill, Sara Ann. “Susan B. Anthony.” Biography Reference Center, Ebsco, 1 Aug. 2017, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=AN=18055186&site=brc-live.