An Analysis of Susan B. Anthony as a Influential Figure

There were many reformers in the 1800s, but one of the most prominent was Susan B. Anthony. I have chosen Susan B. Anthony because she was an influential figure who dedicated fifty years of her life to overcoming the nations resistance to woman suffrage. In this research, you would learn what she has contributed to our society and make a difference for women everywhere. During her fifty years Anthony was an abolitionist, educational reformer, temperance worker, and a womans right campaigner. Anthony traveled, lectured, and canvassed across the nation to gain equal privileges for all women, including the right to vote. She campaigned for the abolition of slavery, womens right to their own property and earnings, and womens labor organization. Anthonys determination had made a difference for the rights of women.

Susan B. Anthony started her career as a reformer at the age of 25. Anthonys family was involved in the anti-slavery movement. Anthony refused to purchase goods by slaveholders, such as cotton cloth or cane sugar. Later she became an agent for the American Anti-Slavery Society, arranging meeting, making speeches, putting up posters, and distributing leaflets. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, who was a family friend, shared a platform at he abolitionist meetings.

Her issues were straightforward: We demand the abolition of slavery because the slave is a human being. (Dubois 78-80) Anthony and her friend Elizabeth Stanton organized a Womens National Loyal League to support and petition for the Thirteenth Amendment outlawing slavery. Not only did she campaign for the slaves, but also for the blacks and womens full citizenship, including the right to vote, in the 14th and 15th amendments. (Monsell 60) Anthony continued to campaign for equal rights for all American citizens, including ex- slaves.

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As an educational reformer, Susan took position of headmistress of the girls department at Canajoharie Academy, her first paid position. She was known to the townspeople as the smartest woman who ever came to Canajoharie (38) At the teachers state convention Anthony called for women to be admitted to the professions and for better pay for women teachers. She also asked for women to have a voice at the convention and to assume committee positions. (Anthony) Anthony served on the board on trustees of Rochesters State Industrial School, campaigning for coeducation and equal treatment of boys and girls.

She wanted equal education opportunities for all regardless of race, and for all schools, colleges, and universities to open their doors to women and ex-slaves. Anthony seeing that she had reached the top of the career ladder in the most respectable field for women, she still felt that she earned less than a man and had no possibility of further promotion. So at the age of 29, she was ready to move beyond the role of schoolmarm, she decided to help right the wrongs of society (Kendall 41)

As a Labor Activist, Anthony encourages working women to call for votes for women and equal pay for equal work. She urged employers to hire women instead, believing this would show how they could do the job as well as men, and therefore deserved equal pay. While being president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, Anthony emphasized the importance of gaining the support of organized labor. (Monsell 75) Anthony and other reformers set their goal to seek protection for working women through trade unions. Anthony tends to always set many goals for her.

While trying to get women better working conditions, she was also trying to limit the sale of liquor. Anthony believed drinking liquor was sinful; she drew attention to the effects of drunkenness on families and campaigned for stronger liquor laws. Anthony wanted to join a leading temperance organization known as Sons of Temperance, but it didnt allow women to join. Anthony and the other temperance workers determined to participate, in spite of the mens attitude, formed the Daughter of Temperance. (Dubois 55) Anthony formed another group like this in Albany because she believes that men become abusive under the influence of alcohol.

Having been convinced, Susan knew that her work for temperance needed the vote if they were to influence public affairs. Anthony was introduced to the leader of the womens right movement, Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Anthony and Stanton put their heads together and started building support for the 13th amendment, which allowed the women to vote, but that did not happen. Anthony then advocated dress reform for women. She cut her hair and wore bloomer (pants) for a year, until she was convinced that it detracted from the causes she supported. Later, Anthony and Stanton founded the American Equal Rights Association; they adopted a strategy of getting vote for women on a state- by-state basis. (105) Anthony campaigned strongly for womens suffrage on speaking tours accompany by her three sisters and Stanton.

Anthony tried another approach, by going to vote, she decided that although the Constitution did not say women could vote, it did not say the couldnt, she was determined to see what would happen if she voted. Anthony was arrested, with other suffragists. Anthony refused to pay her streetcar fare to the police station because she was traveling under protest at the governments expense. (Kendall 89) She was put on trial, the judge was bias so he did not let the jury reach a verdict, and he decided that she was guilty. Anthony never paid the fine for the crime of voting. Later Anthony wrote in her newspaper The Revolution about racial prejudices, and gender biased. Anthony motto for the newspaper was Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. (Kendall 80-81) Beginning in 1890 with Wyoming, states began to grant women the right to vote.

In conclusion this research has demonstrated that Susan B. Anthony was an influential person during the1800s. She had help women gain equal privileges with men. The result of her effort has shown to us that as she once said Failure is Impossible. For the help of Susan B. Anthony, many feminists today belong to national, state and local organization that promote equal rights for women in education, employment, religion, health care, and government.

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