The feminist movement in New York began in the middle of the 19th century. Having gathered for another tea party at the house of one of the city’s activists, the women residents of New York realized their unhappiness. They did not have the right to vote and they could not have their own property. In addition, they were deprived of some social rights and they also did not have the opportunity to get an education. Women were like hostages in a country dominated by men who got all the benefits like a good job and career opportunities, a high salary, the right to vote, the ability to get an education and much more. At the same time, women had nothing, they were like an addition to men and limited in many ways. They were mostly engaged in housekeeping and raising children. Therefore, at that tea party, the women of New York decided that they deserved more, they could do more and were no worse than men. Women have firmly decided they want to change their lives once and for all. Read more on newyorka.
The origin of the national fight for women’s rights in New York
That tea party was held on June 13, 1848, at the home of a New York activist Hunt. After it, several women stayed to organize a women’s rights conference. They intended to hold the conference in the Wesleyan Chapel of the town in Seneca Falls. To do this, they wrote a special invitation for all interested women and handed it to the district courier.
It turned out that in the middle of the 19th century, many women were concerned about their rights and opportunities. Therefore, about 300 of them gathered at the conference held on June 19, 1848. The conference was held for two days and started the fight for women’s rights, which later turned into a real fight for equality in the United States.
The struggle for women’s suffrage in New York
One of the main directions of the New York feminist movement in the mid-19th century was the fight for suffrage. In particular, the first feminists of New York advocated that the right to vote should not be a privilege. Instead, it should be the right of every adult US citizen. Unfortunately, many people were deprived of this right in those days, including women. In addition, the US Constitution of the 1780s stated that suffrage is an inherent right to vote. Thus, the feminist movement in New YorkIt started from the fight for the right to vote.
Also, New York feminists since the mid-19th century:
- fought against slavery
- promoted the reform of women’s work and shortening the working day by 2 hours
- created associations to fight for equal rights
- fought for equal work
- fought for equal salaries
- proposed liberal divorce laws
- created the Hull House in which all women with higher education were encouraged, in particular, they were helped to make a career in the social sphere
- created an association of women from different nationalities
- and more.
The fight for women’s suffrage in the United States lasted for more than 70 years. In 1917, New York became the first state in the country to give women the right to vote.
At the same time, the right to vote for all US women became available only in 1920. Then the 19th amendment to the US Constitution was adopted, which stated that the right to vote of all citizens of the country could not be limited by a number of characteristics, including gender.
Only one single feminist of more than 300 women who attended the first women’s suffrage conference in New York in 1848 lived up to that landmark date and finally used her right to vote.