Susan B. Anthony

In honor of Women's Month, I think it’s important we take a moment to recognize Susan B. Anthony. I’m sure we’ve all heard of Anthony at some point in our history class, however, let’s dive deeper into her background and how her contribution to our society changed everything for women.  Anthony was born on February 15, 1820 in Adams, Massachusetts. Anthony moved around several times; first, her family grew up in Battenville, New York where she went to a school her father set up there until she moved to Philadelphia to attend a boarding school. When she completed school, she took a position from 1846 to 1849, teaching at a female academy. 

Anthony finally settled down with her family near Rochester; she encountered other impactful abolitionists like Fredrick Douglass, Parker Pillsbury, Amelia Bloomer, and Elizabeth Stanton who moved her to push for women's suffrage. Anthony decided to speak up at the temperance meeting in Albany in 1952 which led to her promotion to organize the Women's New York State Temperance Society. This allowed Anthony to be president of this organization and geared her in the right direction. In such a short amount of time, she started getting noticed and became a target for the public eye. During 1872 she cast a vote, and unfortunately, she got caught and became imprisoned. Anthony refused to pay her fine and her case was dismissed. After all of her failed attempts she still worked and traveled often with Stanton. Anthony wanted women to win and fought for this continuously. In 1900 she retired as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. While she was president she planned protests, directed different events, and encouraged women to vote regardless of the laws.

Anthony died in 1906 just fourteen years before the Nineteenth Amendment passed, granting women the right to vote. Sadly, she never got to be there to witness it; however, without her efforts, this would have been extremely hard to achieve. Elizabeth’s bravery, perseverance, and confidence inspired many more women to fight for equality. I hope this article inspires more women to take a stand for what's right!