Marking the centennial of the 19th amendment, an abolitionist Harriet Taubman and how she joined the Suffrage Movement later in her life. On august 18th, 1920, tennessee became the 36th and lasting to ratify the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote. The decades long fight, and its legacy. The organized Women Movement dates when the convention to consider the rights of women devote wasnt cynical false, new york. A Committee Found their grievances against the government of men to be the same number that men have had and endured. It took George Washington 60 years to make amends grievances by war. It took 72 years to establish womens rights by law. At least 1000 legal enactments were necessary, and everyone was a struggle against abolition. Womens suffrage is hard work and party, crowned by victory. Colleen shogan its the vice chair of the centennial commission, also the Senior Vice President of the White House Historical association. Joining us here in washington. Thank you so much for being with. Us thank, you and good morning. Lets talk about the significance of the events of this week august 18th, 1920. The key role tennessee played in the 19th amendment. Yes. In august of 1920, 35 states had ratified the 19th amendment, but the 36th state was elusive. They were 48 states in the United States at that time and according to the constitution, it was required three fourths number of states that had to ratify to make the 19th a mid part of the constitution. And really, the last battle came down to tennessee. There was not another obvious state that could ratify the 19th amendment, and if women were going to have the right to vote in the 1920 election, it all came down to tennessee. Tennessee and also one key vote. This is the headline from the washington post, a mothers letter, a sons choice and the incredible moment women won the right to vote. The letter that it was written by the mother of harry tea burr. Who was he . Yes, harry byrne was a legislator in the Tennessee State house, and the youngest legislator in the Tennessee State house. He represented east tennessee. His district was not particularly supportive of the 19th amendment. And the governor had called a special session for tennessee to consider the 19th amendment, so harry burn returned to nashville for that session. Truth be told, on august 18th, 1920, the vote counters, the suffragists to where the vote counters really believe they did not have the votes to pass the 19th amendment and the Tennessee State house. They were shocked when harry bryne, who had been voting against them from all the other votes, changed his vote unexplainable at that point and time to and aye vote, which pushed it over the top. They did not know that he received a letter from his mother that morning the liberty him at the Tennessee State house floor that asked harry to vote for womens suffrage and to be a good boy and listen to mrs. Cat, the leader of the Suffrage Movement there in nashville. So harry bryne decided to listen to his mother. He was supportive of womens suffrage but it was torn because, once again, his constituents were not. He decided, later on that he would listen to his mother and devoted for womens suffrage, which was really would put the vote over the top and gave the suffragists the win. Who was Jerry Chapman cat, whats her background and why did she play such a big role in this movement . She is one of the most important figures of american suffered history. Carrie catt was the daughter of farmers, and it was to 1872 president ial election. Her mother and father were both, as she thought, politically engaged. The day of the election came and her father got ready to vote along with some of the farm workers who worked on the farm for their father. She did not understand why her mother was not getting ready to go into town to vote, and she asked why are she going into vote. Everyone lasted her and said, dont be silly, carry, women dont vote. That was probably the moment in time when she was 13 years old that Carrie Chapman catt became a suffer just. She started her suffrage career in iowa, worked at the state level and eventually she was married and moved to the northeast and became involved with the National WomensSuffrage Association. She became the protege of suzanne be anthony. Susan bee anthony knew that she probably would not live to see women voting all across the United States. So at that point and time susan b. Anthony decided she would recruit women to take her place. And Carrie Chapman catt was the person susan b. Anthony recruited to take her place. She played a pivotal role several times in the womens Suffrage Movement, certainly as a strategist and definitely in nashville, tennessee for the final fight. And those demonstrations came to washington d. C. We have pictures from outside of the white house. What role did president Woodrow Wilson play in all of this . Did he have a view . Yes, he absolutely had a view. Woodrow wilson, when he came to the white house in 1913 was not a supporter of womens suffrage. In fact, she tried to avoid the issue as much as possible. As time went on went on and would hurt the Democratic Party for a long time in the future. The suffragists led by alice paul were the First Citizens to protest in front of the white house, and they started in 1913. First, he was lukewarm in their presence. He would politely not at them when he would exit the north case of the white house and after the United States was involved in the war effort and the suffragists remained outside of the white house protesting, which are will soon became very angry. At a certain point in time, he ordered from the white house that they be removed. So the d. C. Police started arresting women outside of the white house. As it ended up, 100 168 women were arrested outside the white house for the two years in which they protested in serve prison time in the d. C. Jail or in the aqua juan workhouse, 22 miles south of washington d. C. Prison for . What what was the charge . It was obstructing traffic. Of course, they werent obstructing traffic. They were standing in front of the white house on the sidewalk. It was a false charge. They were acting on the orders of the administration to remove the women from the area outside of the white house. They were not breaking any laws. They were exercising free speech. Just because they could not vote at the time did not mean they were not citizens and had the right to free speech. And im curious, as we look at this movement that really began in earnest in early 1910, 1912. Demonstrations reaching a fever pitch in 1915 in new york city, and theres pictures of that as well. What was the argument against giving women the right to vote . There were numerous arguments. There was opposition from many men, as you might imagine. But there was also a number of anti suffrage womens organizations as well. Well, what it was, was that a lot of men and women viewed womens role as being head of the family, being involved in some civic organizations, but private civic organizations. They did not view women as having a role in the public sphere. Many women opposed to suffer started women did have the right to vote and move into the public sphere and into voting, they would lose their power and authority within the private sphere and family. And those women did not want to give up that status. Its hard for us to understand, but at that time period, 100 years ago, there was not really the conception that women could play a role and both fears. That women could be half powerful positions within government, but also play a role within the family and the private sphere. That was not viewed as being an alternative for the women and the anti Suffrage Movement. They thought of it as either or. Colleen shogan is the Vice President of the womens suffrage. Our phone lines are open and were dividing them recently. Those watching on cspan three, 202 7488000 for those of you in the eastern half of the country. And if youre out west, mountain or pacific time zones, 202 7488001. Suffragists forces suffragette. Theres a difference. Thats one of the first things you learn when you start to start to study the woman Suffrage Movement. Suffragette is a british term. The reason i came into being was in the early 1900s a british journalist for the uk male wrote a very negative article about women who were advocating for the right to vote. He came up with the term suffragette, adding that we ette to the end of it to make them sound small and diminutive. That is really a way to say the efforts are to be minimized of these particular individuals. Well, what the women did was a spouse that term. They took it on. They made it their own, they made it their own powerful term. Alice paul, who was an american living in Great Britain at the time and became part of the british womens Suffrage Movement really did not like the term suffragette. She thought it did make women seem diminutive and not as powerful as they should be. So when alice paul left Great Britain and returned to the United States and became a leader in the womens Suffrage Movement in the United States, she said it was only ever be suffragists and never suffragette. When she created her own publication for the National Womens party. It was called the suffragists. When we talk about american women who advocated for the right to vote, we use a term stuff for just. When we talk about british women, the correct term is suffragette. Tennessee became the 36 states to ratify the constitution but 19th amendment. What happened next . Well, limited vote in the 1920 election. They voted probably the turnout we can estimate between 33 and 36 . Of course, womens turnout increased overtime. And by 1980, the proportion of women voting in the United States surpassed the proportion of men voting in the United States. 100 years ago, one of the editorial cartoons with the caption sky is the limit. As women look at the right to vote, what that means for them politically. Now and, in 2020, an African American woman on a major party ticket. The third time that there has been a woman on the ticket since 1984. Your reaction . Well, i think its all and the continuum of history. Thats why i like that cartoon so much. Its those women moving up the ladder. Certainly, we have seen a historic nomination with Vice President candidate kamala harris. She really stands on the shoulders of many women who came before her, not only the suffragists, but many black women who advocated for the right to vote, fought for the right to vote, even after 1920, up until 1965. Of course, all the women who have served as members of congress, and have ran for president as well. Lets go to your phone call. Carol is first up from oregon. Good morning, welcome to the conversation. Good morning. Im really enjoying this conversation im a daughter of the revolution. We talk about these things we have our meetings. And the one subject that you just happened to mention was to African Women. But there was one thing that i would like to see if you could point out, and that was the fact that when African Women wanted to join the other womens group, they actually said, well, you might hurt us a little bit. They still went on and got the right to vote. So, i want to hear a little bit more of that. That be really great. And thank you very much for bringing this up, i just love all this this is so great carol, thanks for that call. Yes, African American women, unfortunately, were often shut out of the leadership positions in the two major womens suffrage organizations and the United States the National Womens party run by alice ball, and the National American womens Suffrage Association run by Carrie Chapman catt. They could be involved, they spoke, they were members but they were not powerful within these organizations and institutions. However, that did not mean they stop advocating for the right of all women to vote. In fact, they formed their own clubs, their own organizations and were heavily involved. Some African American women even picket in protest in front of the white house. Alice paul would call upon them to do so. Lets go to patrick from louisville, kentucky. Good morning. Yes, i wanted to reveal a story to you. Back in 1992 or 93, i know a lady named lucy stephens. She was a bug suffrage, if im saying that right . I apologize. I found myself homeless, i was 52 years old. I see her on the street every morning walking to the Neighborhood Grocery store. She would carry her groceries. I would, say hello ms. Lucy, how are you this morning . And to be so spry, angela talked just what youre talking on tv right now. She was very alert, very intelligent. And she was a cantillion lady. She was a little lady about five foot five, 110 pound, and he was a sweetheart. I wanted to relate that to you. She would talk about the time when she was a young woman and when she was in that movement. I was so blessed to know her. She was a wonderful, st. Louis person. I just wanted to reveal that to you. Any reaction . This is part of the reason why we have the centennial celebration celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, really to recall the stories of these women. There may be a little bit of a mythology with the womens Suffrage Movement if its tuck at all and americans history, and might be women advocated for the right to vote. They held their signs, they donned their parasols and pantaloons, and before that they were granted the right to vote. That its not really the accurate history that we are trying to tell at the womens Suffrage Centennial commission or the White House Historical association. These women really had to fight hard for the right to vote. The movement lasted seven two years, from 1848 until 1920. And there was a lot of bumps along the way. There were a lot of men in power who told him no. And they figured out a way. They will go back, russia dies and figure out a way to come back at it again. I think it is a tremendous point in American History that we can all learn from. Why did it reach that crescendo from, say, 1912, 1913 until the summer of 1920 . Theres a number of reasons. Other countries were starting to brand women the right to vote, so there was a worldwide pressure that this was coming. And also, in that particular era, world war i ended up helping women in the United States because women participated in the war effort as nurses and also taking over jobs from men who were deployed over in europe. It was very hard for Woodrow Wilson and for others to advocate for democracy abroad and then realize that they were disenfranchising over 20 million americans at home. They epoxy of that became apparent. In fact, which wilson had to acknowledge that we can not have full rights as citizens, given have they participated as leaders in the war effort. He had three daughters from his fuller strife. They put pressure on him to support the 19th amendment . Not to evidence of that. Although one of his daughters was a very few supportive of the Suffrage Movement. Not a record whether she partitioned and for one woman that was not supportive of womens suffrage was Woodrow Wilsons second wife, edith wilson. She was actually an anti suffragists and not think that women should have the right to vote. She was not supportive of the 19th amendment she would not have been a force in favor for winter wilson. For and the president was in poor health, having suffered a stroke. At that period of time, carry with catt, who had a relationship with him, actually had to go to him to enlist which are wilson and with other democratic governors to call them into session so the ratifications to move forward. And she had to go and work through it with wilson to do that. At that point in, time they had stated publicly she was in favor, so it is wilson but. Good morning, welcome to the conversation. Thanks for taking my call, i have a question for the first woman to break ground electing to congress and as the u. S. Governor fly. Understanding is Jeannette Rankin for, the first woman elected to congress. That happened in 1916, before the 19th amendment was ratified. So are you saying that all men voted for her, and also the same thing for the first woman governor, which i believe was in my wyoming. Your comment . Yes, lets talk about another rankin. As a statue of her and the u. S. Health of representatives, elected before women had the right to vote. Yes, she was. She only served one term in the house at that point in time and then she came back to the United States congress after she