Progress Update Two (1/26)

What am I researching?

The research project that I have been working on since I embarked on my AP Research journey in August is studying what factors caused legislators in the Colorado General Assembly to vote yes or no on ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment in Colorado. My research question is: What factors contributed to Colorado to ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972? I am studying the political party, demographic data, and voting record of each legislator. I will then utilize a statistical analyze to determine if there is a significant relationship between these factors and the vote of each legislator.

The Academic Conversation

HISTORY OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT

Context of ERA

Alice Paul was an advocate and organizer who fought for women’s suffrage in England before returning to the United States. In 1913, she formed the National Woman’s Party, organizing marches and protests against the Wilson Whitehouse to advocate for women’s rights and women’s suffrage. After her first goal of passing the 19th amendment was accomplished in 1920, Paul authored the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) which was first introduced in Congress in 1923. The ERA was introduced in every subsequent session of congress until it was ratified by the House and Senate in 1972.

Graham Noble, “The Rise and Fall of the Equal Rights Amendment,” History Review, no. 72 (March 2012): pp. 30-33.

Ratification

In order to be added to the Constitution, the Equal Rights Amendment must be passed by both houses of Congress, and then ratified by three fourths of state legislatures.

Each individual state legislature must vote on whether or not to ratify the amendment and add it to the constitution.

Colorado voted to ratify in 1972, but the amendment never reached the required 38 states.

“U.S. National Woman's Party,” Women's International Network News 25, no. 4 (n.d.): p. 69.

This historical context informs my research because the Equal Rights Amendment has a history at the national level and the state level. While there is literature that explores why the United States national congress ratified the Equal Rights Amendment, the gap in the current academic conversation is why the Equal Rights Amendment was ratified in Colorado. This is what my primary source research aims to understand.

Text of the ERA

“Section 1: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Section 2: The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3: This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.”

Roberta W Francis, “Equal Rights Amendment,” Equal Rights Amendment (Alice Paul Institute, 2018), https://www.equalrightsamendment.org/faq.

The specific text of the Equal Rights Amendment demonstrates the goals and intentions of the legislation. Throughout the 1970s and even into the 21st century, the idea of creating legal equality between men and women has been a very polarizing and politicized issue. Therefore, it is important to understand why legislators voted the way they did. The factors that have been chosen such as political party, demographics, and previous voting record will help determine why legislators voted on the legislation above.

In the map above, a purple star indicates a state where research has been conducted on factors that led to ratification. This research has helped me develop my own methods, and my research on factors in Colorado adds to the academic conversation.

Previous Research

Previous research has been conducted on the factors that caused specific states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. The map indicates which states have been studied in this research. My research joins the academic conversation by conducting similar research in Colorado, where it has not been conducted before.

Research Process

Data Collection

Above is a screenshot of one part of my data table. In step one of my process, I am collecting the name of each legislator in the Colorado General Assembly in 1972, what political party they are affiliated with, how they voted on the Equal Rights Amendment, and what gender they identify as. This is my personal data table where I am recording all these factors that I am collecting from other primary sources.

When I begin step two of my research to collect data about each legislator's previous voting record, I will add that information to this data table.

Primary Source One

Above is a screenshot of the first primary source I am utilizing to complete my research and fill out my data table. This source is a complete collection of every single legislator who has served in the Colorado General Assembly, their political party affiliation, and other demographic information.

I am utilizing the section of the collection that has all of the legislators from 1972. This, paired with the primary source journals from the House and Senate that indicates how each person voted, is how I am completing my data table.

Primary Source Two

This is a screenshot of the second primary source I am using to complete my data table. This source is the Senate Journal of the Colorado General Assembly from the 1972 session that includes a complete record of

Staying Inspired!

My research in this topic began because of my passion for women's rights which I have had the opportunity to more deeply explore through my club: Women's Empowerment and Equality.

Continuing to pour my effort, time, and energy into this club and the women in my community inspires me every day to continue my research!

Next Steps: Continuing Data Collection!

After building my data set of each member of the Colorado General Assembly (with demographic information and political party affiliation), I will use primary source documents to record their voting record. Then, I will build my second data set by examining their voting record on other social issues.

Stay tuned! :)

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