Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony was born on February 15,1820 in Adams Massachusetts. Her first involvement in the world of reform was in the temperance movement. Temperance dealt with the abuses of women and children who suffered from alcoholic husbands and fathers. In 1849, she gave her first public speech for the Daughters of Temperance and then helped found the Woman's State Temperance Society of New York, one of the first organizations of its time. In 1851 she went to Syracuse to attend a series of antislavery meetings. During this time she met Elizabeth Cady Stanton and they became fast friends. Together they joined Amelia Bloomer in campaigns for women's rights.

In 1854, she devoted herself to the antislavery movement serving from 1856 to the outbreak of the civil war in 1861. Here, she served as an agent for the American Anti-slavery Society. After, she collaborated with Stanton and published the New York liberal weekly, "The Revolution" (1868-70) which called for equal pay for women.

In 1872, Anthony demanded that women be given the same civil and political rights that had been extended to black males under the 14th and 15th amendments. Thus, she led a group of women to the polls in Rochester to test the right of women to vote. She was arrested two weeks later and while awaiting trial, engaged in highly publicized lecture tours and in March 1873, she tried to vote again in city elections. After being tried and convicted of violating the voting laws, she succeeded in her refusal to pay the fine. From then on she campaigned endlessly for a federal woman suffrage amendment through the National Woman Suffrage Association and the National American Woman Suffrage Association. She also lectured vigorously throughout the country.

Anthony also advocated for dress reform for women and campaigned for women's property rights in New York State by speaking at meetings, collecting signatures for petitions, and lobbying the state legislature. In 1860, largely as the result of her efforts, the New York State Married Women's Property Bill became law, allowing married women to own property, keep their own wages, and have custody of their children.

In 1888 she organized the International Council of Women and in 1904 the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. Although Anthony did not live to see the consummation of her efforts to win the right to vote for women, the establishment of the 19th amendment is deeply owed to her efforts. She was an incredible leader with a courageous spirit. She worked to oppose prejudice, discrimination and oppression throughout her life and her commitment as an activist is an inspiration to all who are working toward a more humane social order.

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