Lecture Notes: Centennial of the 19th Amendment

Introduction

• Centennial Celebration: Marked 100 years since the ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote.
• Celebrations Across Nashville: Included banners, bells, streamers, and skydives.
• Historical Context: The fight for women's suffrage was a long and difficult struggle.

Historical Struggle for Women's Suffrage

• Votes for Women Room: Nashville attorneys Jeannie Nelson and Margaret Bem raised nearly $4 million to create an educational room at the Nashville Public Library.
• Struggle for the Vote: Women fought a "bitter struggle" and there was significant opposition.

Key Historical Moments

• Final State Needed: By August 1920, 35 states had ratified, needing one more state for the amendment to pass.
• Tennessee’s Role: Tennessee was crucial in the suffrage movement, facing significant opposition.
  • Carrie Chapman Catt: Leading suffragist, instrumental in organizing suffrage efforts.

Opposition to Suffrage

• Anti-Suffragist Arguments:
  • Religious and Moral Reasons: Concerns about disrupting gender roles.
  • Racism: Fear of Black women voting.
  • Corporate Interests: Worried that women would push for social changes like abolishing child labor.
  • Liquor Lobby: Feared prohibition repeal issues, offering free drinks to legislators.

The Decisive Vote

• Harry T. Byrne’s Vote: Influenced by a letter from his mother, he voted in favor, changing history.
• Outcome: The 19th Amendment was ratified on August 26, 1920, concluding an 80-year struggle.

Ongoing Challenges

• Black Women and the Vote: Continued to face barriers such as poll taxes and literacy tests.
• Martha S. Jones: Highlights the ongoing struggle for equality by Black suffragists.

Conclusion

• Legacy of Suffragists: Their fight contributed significantly to the ongoing dialogues about voter rights and equality.
• Current Relevance: Issues from 1920, such as voter suppression and who gets to vote, remain relevant today.