A More Perfect Union: Women's Suffrage and the Constitution

This lesson is designed to introduce students to the arguments for and against women's suffrage found in primary source documents. It is designed to help students understand how the rights of Americans have expanded since the Constitution was ratified.

Weblink address (URL):

Home Page- source

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives:

The learner will analyze primary source documents to discover arguments for and against women's suffrage.
The learner will analyze imagery and symbolism used in primary source documents.
The learner will evaluate the effectiveness of arguments, imagery and symbolism on men and women respectively.

Essential and guiding questions:

How did women convince men to grant them the right to vote?

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level:

Applying

Extension suggestions:

Ask students to imagine that Thomas Jefferson and Abigail Adams held a public debate on women's rights. Write and perform a short skit that describes the debate.
Have students research any one of the many women who are active in American politics today. Create a biographical poster about their subject.
Ask students to compare the arguments for and against women's suffrage with those for and against African American suffrage. Create an acrostic based on the word "suffrage" to express their findings.
Have the students imagine that a great number of young people advocate lowering the voting age to 16. Have them write a newspaper editorial for or against such an amendment.

Helpful Hints

Primary Sources & Materials Used:

Copy of preamble and protest ...
Brooklyn Auxiliary, New York State association opposed to the extension of suffrage to women. [1894].
Election Day!
Justice. Equality. Why women want to vote. Women are citizens, and wish to do their civic duty ... National American woman suffrage association. Headquarters: 505 Fifth Ave, New York [1910].
National Anti-Suffrage Association. (see image at right)
Retouching the Declaration of Independence
Some reasons why we oppose votes for women ... National association opposed to woman suffrage. New York City [1894].
Votes for women! The woman's reason. ... National American woman suffrage association. Headquarters: 505 Fifth Avenue, New York.
Votes for women
Woman suffrage headquarters in Upper Euclid Avenue, Cleveland--A. (at extreme right) is Miss Belle Sherwin, President, National League of Women Voters; B. is Judge Florence E. Allen (holding the flag); C. is Mrs. Malcolm McBride.
Equal Franchise Society Legislative Series; extract from a letter from Abigail Adams to her husband John Adams

Web sites:

Online Library of Liberty: Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Mrs. William Bingham