Early Life of Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony was born on February 15, 1820, in Adams, Massachusetts. Her father ran a cotton mill, where Susan and her sister worked. She noticed that only men got higher-level jobs, which made her question why women were treated unfairly. Growing up in a Quaker family, which valued equality and education for everyone, Susan learned the importance of these ideas. These values stayed with her throughout her life, and she later became a teacher to help educate children and inspire them to believe in their own potential.
Fighting Against Slavery
In 1845, the Anthony family moved to Rochester, New York, where they became deeply involved in the movement to end slavery. Well-known abolitionists, like Frederick Douglass, often visited their home for meetings to discuss how to fight against slavery.
In her 30s, Susan joined the anti-slavery lecture circuit, traveling and giving speeches about why slavery should be abolished. She was a strong advocate for ending slavery without any compromises with slave owners.
In 1863, Susan, along with her friends Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucy Stone, formed the Women’s Loyal National League. Their goal was to push for the end of slavery, which was achieved in 1865 with the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment.
Fighting for Women’s Rights
In 1848, Susan became a teacher in New York. She noticed that men earned $10 a month while women received only $2.50 for the same work. This unfair treatment led Susan to dedicate herself to fighting for women’s rights.
In 1851, she met Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who had helped organize the first women’s rights convention. They became close partners, working together to fight for women’s suffrage, which is the right to vote.
Susan never married, allowing her the freedom to travel and speak about women’s rights. By the 1860s, she was deeply involved in the movement. She gave speeches, organized conventions, and campaigned for women’s property rights.
In 1868, Susan and Elizabeth started a newspaper called The Revolution. The paper addressed important issues, including women’s rights, equal pay, and education.
A Split in the Suffrage Movement
At this time, the suffrage movement split into two groups over the 14th and 15th Amendments. These amendments gave Black men the right to vote but did not include women. Susan and her group believed that all people, regardless of race or gender, should have the right to vote. Other activists focused on getting Black men the vote first, then addressing women’s rights later.
Due to this disagreement, Susan and Elizabeth founded the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) in 1869, which focused on women’s right to vote.
Susan’s Trial
In 1872, Susan Anthony decided to test women’s voting rights by attempting to vote in the presidential election. She and a few other women went to a barber shop to register. Surprisingly, the men in charge allowed them to sign up, and Susan cast her vote for Ulysses Grant.
A few weeks later, Susan was arrested for voting illegally. At her trial, the judge directed the jury to declare her guilty, and she was fined $100, which she refused to pay. Although she was not sent to prison, her trial brought significant attention to the women’s suffrage movement.
Writing Women’s History
In the 1880s, Susan focused on documenting the history of the women’s suffrage movement. She believed that if the facts were not recorded, they might be forgotten. Along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Matilda Joslin Gage, Susan published The History of Woman Suffrage, a series of books detailing the fight for women’s rights.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1890, the two groups that had previously split reunited to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Susan became president of the organization in 1892. She also worked on other important projects, including organizing the World’s Congress of Representative Women in 1893.
Although Susan Anthony retired in 1900, she continued to fight for women’s rights. She died on March 13, 1906, before women won the right to vote. In 1920, the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, was passed. It became known as the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment” in recognition of her efforts.