Fighting for the 19th Amendment
After Paul's numerous protests, President Wilson finally considered an amendment to the Constitution. In 1919 the 19th Amendment was passed by the House and the Senate (Voices of Feminism). However, it still needed to be ratified by thirty-six states to become law. By 1920 thirty-five states had ratified it and the thirty-sixth state came down to Tennessee. Harry Burn was the youngest member of the Tennessee state legislature at the time and everyone expected him to vote against it. But at the last minute, Burn voted for it, ratifying the 19th Amendment by one vote. When Burn explained why he changed his vote, he said he'd gotten a letter from his mother convincing him to vote in favor of the amendment.
"Dear son...
Vote for suffrage and don't keep them in doubt. I notice some of the speeches against. They were very bitter, I have been watching to see how you stood , but have not seen anything yet. Don't forget to be a good boy...
With lots of love,
Mama"
-Febb E. Burn, mother of Harry Burn (Ward, Geoffrey, 224)
Vote for suffrage and don't keep them in doubt. I notice some of the speeches against. They were very bitter, I have been watching to see how you stood , but have not seen anything yet. Don't forget to be a good boy...
With lots of love,
Mama"
-Febb E. Burn, mother of Harry Burn (Ward, Geoffrey, 224)
"I never doubted that equal rights was the right direction. Most reforms, most problems are complicated. But to me there is nothing complicated about ordinary equality."
-Alice Paul, 1972 (Alice Paul Women Suffrage Quote)
The 19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment states:
"The right of the citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on the account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."
(National Archives)
"The right of the citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on the account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."
(National Archives)