In 1917, women started to fight for their rights.  Susan B. Anthony had started a women’s petition for women’s suffrage, which had half a million names on it. The banner went from San Francisco to Washington D.C. to gather support for the cause. However, it wasn’t easy to succeed, some men were against it, women got arrested, and prison conditions were terrible. Finally in 1920 the 19th Amendment was passed. As a result women gained new roles and families began to change.

1915 was when it all started; when women were finally deciding to make a change. Susan B. Anthony and her friend Elizabeth C. Stanton started the protest for women’s suffrage, along with Carrie Champman Catt, the head of the National American Women Suffrage. In 1915, Alice Paul, another suffragist, organized a women’s petition, which had half a million names on it. Women carried big banners and protested about women’s suffrage. They believed that according to the Constitution everyone had their rights. However, females were not included because men thought that women were not smart enough to have their freedom. All kinds of women; rich, poor, old, young, married, single, mothers, etc. were for the idea of the 19th Amendment. Suffragists paraded through New York City in 1915. In 1917, was when the fight got serious, women marched in front of the White House. (Hakim 29)

Women battled with many things, especially with the people that were against women having their rights. It was illegal for females to protest. Policemen told the women to stop and to leave. However, some were just arrested. Dr. W.W. Parker wrote to a Medical Society of Richmond, Virginia that women were “superior morally, inferior mentally, to man – not qualified for medicine or law” (Hakim 29). This angered the women even more. While protesting outside the White House, men started to throw eggs, tomatoes, apples, etc. and yelling at women to leave. Women were held in jail cells, solitary confinement, and some even went on hunger strikes. If they wouldn’t eat, they were held down, fed against their will, and some were force fed. Ada Davenport Rendall was given nothing but water and bread for 17 days. Luckily, a very important man, Woodrow Wilson was not against the idea of women fighting for their freedom. However, at the time he thought there were more important things to worry about.

Finally, in 1920 women had their rights. It came from women being “peaceful and respectful, but persistent” (Hakim 29). They carried big banners that said, “20 million American women are not self-governed” (32). Some banners also said,  “Mr. President how long must women wait for liberty,” and “Mr. President what will you do for women suffrage?” These were the very same words from the Declaration of Independence. Then in 1919 Harry Burn, the youngest representative in his legislature, was influenced by his mother. His mother influenced him to change the law forbidding women the right to vote. She wrote him a letter saying to be “a good boy and to help the old lady, Mr. Catt” (33). When the Tennessee legislators were deciding whether or not to approve the 19th Amendment, Harry Burn held the deciding vote. Luckily, he listened to his mother’s advice. By 1920 every women in the United States had just as equal rights as men.

The 19th Amendment was also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment. Susan Anthony and her friend, Elizabeth MeShane started the protest for women suffrage in the mid-19th century, along with Carrie Chapmen Cutt and the National American Women Suffrage Association. Back when Susan B. Anthony was a girl she asked a teacher if she could learn long division, and he replied with a big no. He thought females should learn to read the Bible, study the Bible, clean, and become a housewife. However, she never did what others told her to do unless she felt like it was the right thing to do (30). This is just like  when others believed that women shouldn’t have their freedom, Susan Anthony didn’t think that was right so she started a petition for women’s rights.

“American women pursued new lifestyles and assumed new jobs and different roles in society during the 1920s,” ( Danvers 440 ). New work opportunities for women were in the office, factories, stores, stories, and professions. Women kept continuing to seek paid employment, however their opportunities had changed. Many women college graduates took on “women’s professions” such teachers, nurses, etc. A few females broke the stereotypes by doing work once reserved for men, such as flying air planes, driving taxis, and drilling oil wells (442). This helped reshape families. Marriages had greater equality and were now based on love, passion, and partnership.

Women fought for their right to vote. They carried banners and fought until 1920 when every women had their rights. Even with prison conditions and tomato throwing women were able to succeed. Later in the early 1920’s, women were working in offices, libraries, working on being nurses, flying airplanes, etc. Marriage was based on love and compassion. Women had seceded and finally got their rights. From that day on women are able to work in businesses and vote while taking care of their families.