19th Amendment

The 19th amendment was the amendment that granted women the right to vote and it affected almost half of the United States. It changed our society by now including women who had no previous say in government.

The 19th amendment ended discrimination to half of our society. Only half of the population could vote before the 19th amendment but men were basically against it, but were pressured by their wives. “The 13th amendment was ratified by the states within the year, of the three reconstruction amendments, the 13th is the one that is not merely a restriction on the states, but also limits individuals, prohibiting them from owning slaves”(13th amendment, constitutional amendments, Paul Finkleman).”Clause one of section one clarified that all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. are both citizens of the United States and of the state of their residence” (14th amendment, constitutional amendments, Paul Finkleman).”It proposed that the states would not be able to deny any citizens right to vote, except for women, minors, insane persons, criminals, or rebels against union (15th amendment, constitutional amendments, Paul Finkleman).

One of the sad parts of history was the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment were known as slave amendments gave slaves the right to vote before women. “The quality of their work, and the great number of new jobs they took on in 1917-1918, quickly dispelled the myth that women were only capable of household chores(“women during world war I”, American journey). All the men went to fight in the first world war, it was the women who had the responsibilities of working, and taking care of the family. The Industrial Revolution took advantage of women by not only using them for cheap labor, but also not letting them vote.”In many ways women suffered more than men. Women were traditionally regarded as playing an equally important role as men. They were as a rule given the lowest-skilled , lowest-paying jobs. Women had no political, social, or economic rights outside the home.”(the social impact of the industrial revolution, Neil Schlager and Josh Lauer).

Our society is much better off since the passage of the 19th amendment. Not only do women vote today but they also hold important positions such as senators, representatives, mayors, and heads of fortune 500 companies. Women are no longer shut out of our democratic processes, now our constitution can say “All men and women are created equal.”