“In Rochester, N.Y., women covered the gravestone of Susan B. Anthony with “I voted” stickers. Many wore white in honor of Anthony, who fought for women’s suffrage, an effort that culminated with the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920. Women have been on the national ballot before, but never as the presidential nominee for one of the two major parties.” 1
Susan B. Anthony was born on February 15, 1820 to Daniel and Lucy Read Anthony.2 She was one of seven children. Originally from Adams, Massachusetts, her family moved to Battenville, New York where her parents encouraged all of their children to value self-reliance and principled convictions. She and her family were members of the Quaker religion, which allowed the family to live modestly and practiced non-violence and respect for all people, regardless of race or background.3 Growing up, her sisters and mother would stay at home and do domestic work, while her dad ran a mill. Once her father had enough savings from managing the mill, he sent Susan and one of her sisters to be educated at a boarding school in Pennsylvania, run by the Friends of the Quakers. She graduated at the age of fifteen, and got a job for a modest salary as a teacher. Once she found out that she was making 20% less than men at the school, she went to the school’s administrators and protested that they should be receiving equal pay. Her protests led to her dismissal from the school, and she returned home.4
Susan and her family were both heavily involved in the abolition, temperance, and women’s rights movements. Her parents attended the Women’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls in 1848 and signed the Declaration of Women’s Rights.5 One significant event that paved the way for her passion for women’s rights occurred in 1852, while she attended a meeting. As she rose to speak on a certain topic, she was ignored by all of the men in the room; angered and insulted she stormed out and soon founded the Women’s State Temperance Society. This was the incident that convinced her to fight for the right for women to vote. She felt as if it was the cornerstone of women’s fight for respect and equality.6 She attended her first Women’s Rights convention in 1852 and from then until the end of the American Civil War, she campaigned from door to door, in legislatures, and in meetings for the abolition of slavery and the promotion of women’s rights. Her persistency and hard work led to married women in New York to own their own property, keep their own wages, and have custody of their children in case of a separation or divorce. She was paving the way for the future as we know it.
In 1889, the National Woman’s Suffrage Association merged with the American Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association. In 1890, Wyoming became the first state to allow women the right to vote. Susan is the reason today why women can vote and without all of her hard work, women may not have that right. She did not live to see the Nineteenth Amendment but she made a great deal of influence on legislation. Before she died on March 13, 1906, she was able to see all of her hard work in action by four states giving women the right to vote. In her last public speech she gave, she ended with, “Failure is impossible.”7
- Joel Achenbach, “Women cover Susan B. Anthony’s grave with ‘I voted’ stickers as ‘Pantsuit Nation’ goes to the polls,” The Washington Post, November 8, 2016. ↵
- Reconstruction Era Reference Library, 2005, s.v. “Anthony, Susan B.” ↵
- Reconstruction Era Reference Library, 2005, s.v. “Anthony, Susan B.” ↵
- Reconstruction Era Reference Library, 2005, s.v. “Anthony, Susan B.” ↵
- Reconstruction Era Reference Library, 2005, s.v. “Anthony, Susan B.” ↵
- UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History, 2009, s.v. “Anthony, Susan B.,” by Benson Sonia, et al. ↵
- UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History, 2009, s.v. “Anthony, Susan B.,” by Benson Sonia, et al. ↵
65 comments
Zaraly Frasquillo
Susan B. Anthony would be proud of this article! I love the way you organized it and how you started it with how she her gravestone was covered with stickers. To me Susan B. Anthony will always be an amazing inspiration, it only comes to prove that one person can change things. It is upsetting that she did not get to live to see the 19th amendment, but i hope where ever she is, she is proud, because i am. #futureisfemale
Natalia Zuniga
She had such an amazing and empowered life! What I found most interesting that her parents were supportive. They supported women, and that fact that they stood what’s right showed how much influence they had on her. It is really beautiful that so many women remembered her and after voting for the first women on a ballot by a major party because it did start and was possible because of her.
Sergio Cervantes
A wonderful article on America’s past and the important role women have had in creating the beautiful country we know today! It is interesting to read about her childhood and the effect her parents had on her life. I find what they taught her to be essential to each child, especially self-reliance. It improves the character of individuals and strengthens them to deal with adversity later on in their life. She was a very inspiring person and it amazes me to see all the work she did to promote women’s rights.
Mario De Leon
This was a fantastic article. I knew about Susan B Anthony but especially being women’s history month it was a great time to read this article. I don’t think Susan B. would be the inspiring woman she is today without the great support and influences from her parents. She is a true inspiration not only to women but to all those who feel marginalized.
Cameron Mays
I enjoyed this article because the topic it covers is super important, especially in today’s times with Trump being elected, and his apparant views on everyone that isn’t a white male. Furthermore, it was national women’s day a few days ago so this article is posted at a great time. On the flip side, it seems like a lot of the article was just a biography, and you didn’t expand a lot on her impact. I feel like you could’ve done more there.
Aimee Trevino
Very informative and interesting article! It is amazing to see how women at the time were already thinking of a brighter and better future. Susan B. Anthony is a prime example of just how ahead of our time some of these women were. I find it so crazy reading of times where women could not vote, and had minimum rights. Great article!
Gabriela Medrano
Wow, thanks Susan B. Anthony! I had forgot what an American icon she is to women of today and in her time and hopefully continues to be one in years to come. I see how your article gave a story to the story of her life so well done. I feel her parents had a great influence on her beliefs and it was such a positive impact. Woman like her are very inspiring, great article and good topic!
Nicolas McKay
This was a very interesting article. Susan B Anthony was certainly ahead of her time. I knew very little of her upbringing, so reading about it was very interesting. It was also very interesting to read about her other efforts towards women’s rights, and the injustices she face, and that women still face to this day. She is truly a shining example of feminism as well as a model for all of us to follow well done once again.
Ana Gonzalez
Great article! I really enjoyed learning more about Susan B. Anthony as she was an important person in the Women’s Rights Movement. I think it’s amazing how Susan did not stay quiet when she was being paid less than men, instead she protested. She truly changed the way society treated women and because of her women gained rights like owning property and getting divorced. Susan is a great example for the women of today but the fight for women’s rights still continues.
Alyssa Vela
Really informative article! I loved how you made sure to point out her background and religion. Susan B Anthony is definitely a historical figure I’ve learned a lot about in high school. The only difference between what I learned in high school and what I learned in this article was the amount of knowledge that was taken away on her background. It’s great to know that she reflected the modesty of her religion/beliefs into her women’s rights movements. I loved this article!