13: Women's Suffrage

Tennessee State Standards

US.18 Describe the movement to achieve suffrage for women, including its leaders, the activities of suffragettes, the passage of the 19th Amendment, and the role of Tennessee in the suffrage effort (Anne Dallas Dudley, Harry Burn, Josephine Pearson, “Perfect 36”). (C, H, P, TN)

13. (US.18) Women's Suffrage

a. Activities of the Suffragettes

b. 19^th Amendment

c. Tennessee's Role in the Women's Voting Movement

d. The "Perfect 36"

e. Anne Dallas Dudley

f. Harry Burn

g. Josephine Person

13A. Activities of the Suffragettes

Women continued to fight for the right to vote, which had begun in the United States with the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848.

Many women worked for suffrage and equality, so the movement utilized different strategies.

In the early 1900's, feminist leaders used mass marches and hunger strikes to demonstrate against a government that did not allow half its population to vote.

There were at least two statewide organizations in Tennessee that worked to get women suffrage at the local level. At the same time, the national organizations were making progress on a constitutional amendment.

Jane Addams was an early advocate for Women’s Suffrage. In her essay "Utilization of Women in City Government," Addams noted the connection between the workings of government and the household, stating that many departments of government, such as sanitation and the schooling of children, could be traced back to traditional women's roles in the private sphere.

Thus, these were matters of which women would have more knowledge than men, so women needed the vote to best voice their opinions. She said that if women were to be responsible for cleaning up their communities and making them better places to live, they needed to be able to vote to do so effectively.

13B. The 19th Amendment

The 19th Amendment was passed in 1919, but in order for it to go into effect, it had to be ratified by 36 states. Once the 19th Amendment was ratified, women would have the right to vote.

13C. Tennessee's Role in the Women's Voting Movement

By 1920, 35 states had ratified the Nineteenth Amendment, and Tennessee was not one of them. President Wilson pressured Governor Albert H. Roberts to hold an assembly to vote on the amendment. People from all over the country came to Tennessee to fight for, or oppose, suffrage because 36 states would make the majority and the amendment would be adopted.

After much drama and alleged underhanded tactics, the assembly met. Surprisingly some legislators, such as Harry Burn, changed their minds. Harry Burn was going to oppose ratification until he received a message from his mother to vote for suffrage.

Tennessee made it "the perfect 36" as they ratified the Nineteenth Amendment, giving women nationwide the right to vote.

13D. The Perfect 36

On 8/24/1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th amendment, officially giving women the right to vote. These 36 states who supported women's rights were known as the "Perfect 36."

The Nineteenth Amendment, regarding female suffrage, was proposed by Congress on June 14, 1919. The amendment could not become law without the ratification of a minimum thirty-six of the forty-eight states.

By the summer of 1920, thirty-five of the forty-eight states had ratified the amendment, with a further four states called upon to hold legislative voting sessions on the issue. Three of the states refused to call special sessions, but Tennessee agreed to do so. This session was called to meet in August 1920.

Harry Burn had originally made clear his intention to vote "no" in any session. However, a letter from his mother asking him to vote in favor of the amendment helped to change his mind.:

After much debating and argument, the result of the vote was 48-48. Burn's vote broke the tie in favor of ratifying the amendment. He responded to attacks on his integrity and honor by saying, "I knew that a mother's advice is always safest for a boy to follow and my mother wanted me to vote for ratification."

As anti-suffragists had been fighting and preparing for this moment over the summer, they became very enraged when they discovered the news of Burn's decision and after the vote was ratified, angry anti-suffragists chased Burn through the Tennessee Legislature Hall, and Burn was forced to conceal himself for a short time until the tense situation had been defused.

13E. Anne Dallas Dudley

Anne Dallas Dudley was a prominent women’s rights activist from Nashville who founded the Nashville Equal Suffrage League.

13F. Harry Burn

Harry Burn was the member of the Tennessee General Assembly who broke the 48-48 tie in favor of ratification of the 19th amendment. When asked why he changed his mind, he said a letter from his mother convinced him to vote for ratification of the 19th amendment.

13G. Josephine Pearson

Josephine Pearson was from middle Tennessee and she campaigned against the 19th amendment. She tried to stop Tennessee from being the 36th state to ratify the 19th amendment.

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