The Long Road to Equality for women
Excerpt from Susan B. Anthony's Address to Congress in 1868
After more than 100 years of struggle, women in the United States finally won the night to vote in 1920. Sulfragist Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) dedicated her life to the cause of winning the vote for women. In 1866, Anthony read an appeal to the Congress of the United States for the enfranchisement of women.
“To the Senate and House of Representatives:
1. "Woman has always had the right to property and wages, the right to make contracts and do business in her own name. And even married women, by recent legislation, have been secured in these civil rights. Woman now holds a vast amount of the property in the country, and pays her full proportion of taxes. On what principle, then, do you deny her representation?
2. “We propose no new theories. We simply ask that you secure to ALL the practical application of the immutable principles of our government, without distinction of rack, color or sex, And we urge our demand now, because you have the opportunity and the power to take this onward step in legislation. The nations of the earth stand watching and waiting to see if our Revolutionary idea, "all men are created equal," con be realized in government: Crush not, we pray you, the million hopes that hang on our success. Men and parties must pass away, but justice is eternal.
3. "The only tenable ground of representation is UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE, as it is only through Universal Suffrage that the principle of "Equal Rights to All" can be resized. All prohibitions based on race, color, sex, property, or education, are violations of the republican idea. You assume to be the representatives of 15,000,000 women - American citizens- who already possess every attainable qualification for the ballot. Women read and write, hold many offices under government, pay taxes, and the penalties of crime, and yet are allowed to exercise but the one right of petition.
4. "With man, woman shared the dangers of the Mayflower on a stormy sea, the dreary landing on Plymouth Rock, the rigors of a New England winter, and the privations of a seven years' wait. With him she bravely threw off the British yoke, felt every pulsation of his heart for freedom, and inspires the glowing eloquence that maintained it through the century. With you we have just passed through the agony and death, the resurrection and triumph of another revolution, doing all in our power to mitigate is horrors and guard its glories. And now thank you we have no souls to fire, no brains to weigh your arguments, that after education such as this, we can stand silent witnesses while you sell our birthright of liberty to save from a timely death an effete political organization? No, as we respect womanhood, we must protest against this desecration of the magna Carta of American Liberties; and with an impartiality not to be…
What was the main purpose for Anthony's speech?
- A. to implore Congress to extend the right to vote to women
- B. to clarify the principles that guided the establishment laws in the United States
- C. to describe the role women have played in history in the United States
- D. to remind Congress of the property rights given to women
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Anthony's speech primarily aimed to advocate for women's suffrage, urging Congress to extend voting rights to women. This aligns directly with option A. Option B misinterprets the focus of the speech; while principles of governance may be mentioned, the core message is not about clarifying foundational laws. Option C inaccurately emphasizes a historical overview rather than the immediate call to action for women's voting rights. Option D, while addressing women's rights, incorrectly shifts the focus to property rights, which is not the central theme of Anthony's advocacy in this context.
Anthony's speech primarily aimed to advocate for women's suffrage, urging Congress to extend voting rights to women. This aligns directly with option A. Option B misinterprets the focus of the speech; while principles of governance may be mentioned, the core message is not about clarifying foundational laws. Option C inaccurately emphasizes a historical overview rather than the immediate call to action for women's voting rights. Option D, while addressing women's rights, incorrectly shifts the focus to property rights, which is not the central theme of Anthony's advocacy in this context.
Other Related Questions
Which claim made by the author is unsupported in the article?
- A. People want landfills located as far from their homes and businesses as possible.
- B. The Gregory brothers' company is different from other trash disposal companies.
- C. The Gregory brothers reach out to the community in numerous ways.
- D. Some trash disposal companies act in their own self-interests.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A lacks direct evidence in the article, making it unsupported. While the desire for landfills to be distant from homes is a common sentiment, the article does not provide specific claims or data to back this assertion. Option B is supported by the article, which highlights unique practices of the Gregory brothers' company compared to others in the industry. Option C is also backed by examples of community outreach mentioned in the text, illustrating the brothers' engagement efforts. Option D is substantiated through discussions of industry practices, indicating that some companies prioritize self-interests over community needs.
Option A lacks direct evidence in the article, making it unsupported. While the desire for landfills to be distant from homes is a common sentiment, the article does not provide specific claims or data to back this assertion. Option B is supported by the article, which highlights unique practices of the Gregory brothers' company compared to others in the industry. Option C is also backed by examples of community outreach mentioned in the text, illustrating the brothers' engagement efforts. Option D is substantiated through discussions of industry practices, indicating that some companies prioritize self-interests over community needs.
In paragraph 10, Brannick's claims it will minimize noise and traffic that result from the new superstore. Is this claim well supported?
- A. No, because Brannick's provides limited details concerning the plan for controlling congestion.
- B. Yes, because Brannick's recognizes how complex the problems associated with large superstores are.
- C. No, because Brannick's is vague about the number of customers the store might draw from nearby towns.
- D. Yes, because Brannick's explains how it has worked with the city government to resolve the problems.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Brannick's claim lacks strong support due to insufficient details on congestion control measures. Option A accurately highlights this weakness, indicating that without a clear plan, the assertion remains unsubstantiated. Option B incorrectly suggests that acknowledging complexity equates to effective solutions; recognizing a problem does not provide evidence of a plan. Option C points out vagueness regarding customer numbers, but this alone doesn’t address the specific issue of noise and traffic management. Option D misrepresents Brannick's position, as any collaboration mentioned does not guarantee effective noise or traffic reduction, failing to substantiate the claim.
Brannick's claim lacks strong support due to insufficient details on congestion control measures. Option A accurately highlights this weakness, indicating that without a clear plan, the assertion remains unsubstantiated. Option B incorrectly suggests that acknowledging complexity equates to effective solutions; recognizing a problem does not provide evidence of a plan. Option C points out vagueness regarding customer numbers, but this alone doesn’t address the specific issue of noise and traffic management. Option D misrepresents Brannick's position, as any collaboration mentioned does not guarantee effective noise or traffic reduction, failing to substantiate the claim.
How does paragraph 6 fit into the problem-solution structure of the article?
- A. It introduces the problem of harboring wild animals without endangering neighbors.
- B. It provides a solution for containing debris without offending neighbors.
- C. It extends the solution for disposing of trash without spreading offensive odors.
- D. It reveals the problem of maintaining the landfill without harming the wild animals living there.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Paragraph 6 effectively addresses a solution for containing debris, ensuring that it does not offend neighbors. This aligns with the article's problem-solution structure by directly tackling community concerns about waste management. Option A incorrectly suggests that the paragraph introduces a problem rather than a solution. Option C misidentifies the focus, as it relates to trash odors rather than debris containment. Option D also misinterprets the content, as it implies a problem regarding landfills and wildlife, which is not the focus of this paragraph. Thus, B accurately encapsulates the paragraph's role in resolving a specific issue.
Paragraph 6 effectively addresses a solution for containing debris, ensuring that it does not offend neighbors. This aligns with the article's problem-solution structure by directly tackling community concerns about waste management. Option A incorrectly suggests that the paragraph introduces a problem rather than a solution. Option C misidentifies the focus, as it relates to trash odors rather than debris containment. Option D also misinterprets the content, as it implies a problem regarding landfills and wildlife, which is not the focus of this paragraph. Thus, B accurately encapsulates the paragraph's role in resolving a specific issue.
Based on information from both the article and the letter to the editor, what can the reader infer about the authors?
- A. Both authors feel they have personally paid a price as women in the workplace.
- B. Both authors advocate for legal action to reduce pay inequity.
- C. Both authors support reforms to help women gain equality in the workplace
- D. Both authors want businesses to be leaders in ending pay inequality
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The inference that both authors support reforms to help women gain equality in the workplace is substantiated by their discussions on systemic barriers and the need for change. They emphasize the importance of addressing inequalities through actionable reforms rather than merely highlighting personal experiences or advocating for legal action alone. Option A is incorrect because while personal experiences may be mentioned, the focus is on broader reforms rather than individual sacrifices. Option B misinterprets their stance; the authors promote change rather than specifically advocating for legal actions. Option D, while relevant, is too narrow, as their emphasis is on comprehensive reforms rather than solely on business leadership.
The inference that both authors support reforms to help women gain equality in the workplace is substantiated by their discussions on systemic barriers and the need for change. They emphasize the importance of addressing inequalities through actionable reforms rather than merely highlighting personal experiences or advocating for legal action alone. Option A is incorrect because while personal experiences may be mentioned, the focus is on broader reforms rather than individual sacrifices. Option B misinterprets their stance; the authors promote change rather than specifically advocating for legal actions. Option D, while relevant, is too narrow, as their emphasis is on comprehensive reforms rather than solely on business leadership.