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DocsTeachThe online tool for teaching with documents, from the National Archives National Archives Foundation National Archives

Women's Suffrage

Weighing the Evidence

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About this Activity

  • Created by:Joan Lange
  • Historical Era:The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930)
  • Thinking Skill:Historical Issues-Analysis & Decision-Making
  • Bloom's Taxonomy:Analyzing
  • Grade Level:Middle School
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Please use a tablet or desktop computer to use this activity.
The Women's Suffrage movement increased in momentum during the years of America's involvement in World War I (1917-1918). Did the role of women in the homefront and abroad in the warfront influence opposition to or support of women's right to vote?
https://www.docsteach.org/activities/student/12-womens-suffrage

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Students will sort primary source documents to evaluate the "weight" (persuasiveness) of particular arguments and approaches in the fight to win the right to vote for women. 

In particular, students will evaluate documents during the years of America's involvement in WWI (1917-1918) and discuss the following: 

Giving Women the Right to Vote detracts from our nation's goals.

Giving Women the Right to Vote supports our nation's goals.

In a follow-up discussion, pose this question:
Did the involvement of women in WWII increase support of rights for women following the end of the war?


Documents in this activity

  • Letter from the Alabama Male Association Opposed to Woman's Suffrage
  • Manufacturing Spiral Puttees in New York City
  • Petition for Woman Suffrage from Frederick Douglass Jr. and Other Residents of the District of Columbia
  • Petition from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America for National Woman's Suffrage
  • Petition from the Women Voters Anti-Suffrage Party of New York
  • Photograph of Marine Corps First Class Private Edith Macies
  • Women Enrolling in the War Effort
  • Postcard from the Georgia Association Opposed to Woman's Suffrage
  • Central Pennsylvania Women's Suffrage Association Joins the Red Cross Parade
  • Senator Borah's Letter from the Georgia Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage
  • Denver Post Suffrage Petitions
  • Suffragists Picket White House
  • Training School for Women Workers at the Watertown Arsenal
  • Protestors Holding a Woman Suffrage Banner
  • Women Electric Welders at Hog Island Shipyard
  • Women Taking Place of Men on Great Northern Railway

CC0
To the extent possible under law, Joan Lange has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to "Women's Suffrage".

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