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North Carolina History Digital Textbook Project

Suffrage: The changing role of women

By Kristin Post

1.7 Using the Political Theories interview

By Kristin Post

Provided by UNC Libraries / Documenting the American South

Introductory script

As was noted in the previous excerpt, an organized women’s movement for suffrage was launched in 1848 with the Seneca Falls Declaration that Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote. Carrie Chapman Catt is credited for also organizing state and national movements for suffrage. By 1910, five states had awarded women the right to vote. (Refer to Library of Congress photograph of White House protestors.) As we saw, women took action in several ways, including picketing the White House and chaining themselves to the fence in front. In the upcoming oral history excerpt, Dr. Boyd and Mrs. Myers will discuss some of their theories as to why women achieved suffrage in 1920.

Preliminary questions

  1. What other major historic events have taken place just before and just around 1920?
  2. What kind of politician do you consider President Woodrow Wilson? What is he credited with accomplishing during his presidency?
  3. Given what you know of these two women, what do you predict are their feelings toward President Wilson?

The recording

Play the President Wilson oral history excerpt. Running time: 2 minutes 40 seconds.

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Transcript

Rosamonde R. Boyd
Well, I know that the women up here were not really too eager to push in this direction although they favored the franchise of women and they would assume responsibility when it came. That is, the leadership. I think the rest of the women, were just lethargic and maybe disinterested.
Constance Myers
This is probably the case throughout the United States. You had a small handful of leaders that pushed hard for this.
Rosamonde R. Boyd
Yes, I think so. And I don’t think the South was the area that really put it across at all, because women were rather conservative. This was where they were placed on a pedestal and kept there a longer period of time than elsewhere. Although, southern women during the Civil War had to assume heavy responsibilities and be mother and father both, to their families.
Constance Myers
Probably to some extent during World War I too, yes.
Rosamonde R. Boyd
I think, in the nation as a whole, that women assumed such an important role in World War I that the franchise was a reward for their community service and their national service. I don’t think it could have been delayed much longer after women had played such a significant role in the War. Keeping the home fires burning and doing the necessary work for the troops that could be done at home and having to take over more male roles, more vocational and occupational positions that men previously had, proved their ability and equality.
Constance Myers
I wonder if you think that President Wilson viewed it in this light or if he was to some extent pressured by the women who appeared at the White House and picketed and sent him telegrams?
Rosamonde R. Boyd
I wouldn’t think that President Wilson would be influenced by any public demonstrations.
Constance Myers
You wouldn’t think so?
Rosamonde R. Boyd
No, I wouldn’t. I think his determination for everything was the result of intellectually facing the problems and the issues.
Constance Myers
Couldn’t it have been a matter of political reality given the fact that some women did indeed have the vote? And some states were crucial in which women had received the vote on the state basis. And he was looking ahead to the 1920 election, not knowing that he would be so ill.
Rosamonde R. Boyd
I think that President Wilson, although a political scientist and a professor for many years, was not that much of a politician. No, I really don’t.

Follow-up questions

  1. What two theories did you hear on why the amendment was supported and ratified?
  2. What information have you learned in class or from your textbook that confirms or denies any of these theories?
  3. What is your opinion as to what might be closer to the truth?
  4. You have heard several exchanges between Mrs. Myers and Dr. Boyd. What kind of exchange and interaction have they had so far? What do you think one woman thinks of the other?
  5. Also, by now, you may have heard the sound of tea cups clinking. At a point during the interview, these women were served tea, presumably by a third woman who worked for Dr. Boyd. How do these ambient sounds affect your interpretation of this interview?