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
The only reason her husband did not consult her about his business was that she did not wait to be consulted. What role does the sentence play in the excerpt?
- A. It foreshadows a decision the characters will face
- B. It develops the theme of cooperation.
- C. It helps establish important character traits
- D. It emphasizes a conflict over money.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The sentence highlights key character traits, particularly the husband's independence and the wife's assertiveness. This dynamic reveals their communication patterns and individual approaches to decision-making, which are crucial for understanding their relationship. Option A is incorrect, as the statement does not hint at future decisions but rather reflects their current situation. Option B misinterprets the essence of their relationship; it suggests cooperation, while the sentence indicates a lack of it. Option D inaccurately focuses on money, whereas the sentence centers on their interpersonal dynamics, not financial conflict.
The sentence highlights key character traits, particularly the husband's independence and the wife's assertiveness. This dynamic reveals their communication patterns and individual approaches to decision-making, which are crucial for understanding their relationship. Option A is incorrect, as the statement does not hint at future decisions but rather reflects their current situation. Option B misinterprets the essence of their relationship; it suggests cooperation, while the sentence indicates a lack of it. Option D inaccurately focuses on money, whereas the sentence centers on their interpersonal dynamics, not financial conflict.
Read this sentence from paragraph 1. 'People know that landfills are a disgusting, if necessary, evil and that they spread disease and pestilence throughout populated communities.' The reasoning in this sentence is unsound because it claims something is true simply because
- A. it has not been proven false.
- B. experts say it is.
- C. a popular opinion makes it correct.
- D. it has always been that way.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The reasoning in the sentence is flawed because it relies on the idea that widespread belief or popular opinion validates a claim. Just because many people think landfills are harmful does not inherently make it true; it requires scientific evidence to support such assertions. Option A is incorrect since the absence of proof does not automatically confirm a statement's validity. Option B is misleading, as expert opinion must be backed by research and data rather than being accepted as fact. Option D is also wrong, as tradition or historical precedent does not guarantee the accuracy of a claim; beliefs must evolve with new evidence.
The reasoning in the sentence is flawed because it relies on the idea that widespread belief or popular opinion validates a claim. Just because many people think landfills are harmful does not inherently make it true; it requires scientific evidence to support such assertions. Option A is incorrect since the absence of proof does not automatically confirm a statement's validity. Option B is misleading, as expert opinion must be backed by research and data rather than being accepted as fact. Option D is also wrong, as tradition or historical precedent does not guarantee the accuracy of a claim; beliefs must evolve with new evidence.
What can the reader infer about the Gregory brothers from the sentence 'They chose to take themselves out of the fight' in paragraph 2 of the article?
- A. They wanted to reinvent how a landfill business operates.
- B. They decided to follow legal requirements ignored by other landfill owners.
- C. They decided to leave the landfill business altogether.
- D. They wanted to present their model for running a landfill to state and county officials.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
The phrase "They chose to take themselves out of the fight" suggests a deliberate decision to step away from conflict, indicating a desire to innovate rather than engage in traditional practices. Option A aligns with this inference, as it implies a focus on reinventing operations. Option B is incorrect because it does not specifically address the brothers’ intent to innovate but rather suggests compliance with existing laws. Option C misinterprets their action as leaving the business entirely, which is not supported by the context. Option D suggests they aimed to showcase their model, but the phrase indicates withdrawal from conflict rather than active presentation.
The phrase "They chose to take themselves out of the fight" suggests a deliberate decision to step away from conflict, indicating a desire to innovate rather than engage in traditional practices. Option A aligns with this inference, as it implies a focus on reinventing operations. Option B is incorrect because it does not specifically address the brothers’ intent to innovate but rather suggests compliance with existing laws. Option C misinterprets their action as leaving the business entirely, which is not supported by the context. Option D suggests they aimed to showcase their model, but the phrase indicates withdrawal from conflict rather than active presentation.
What is one theme of this excerpt?
- A. Wealth is not always determined by money.
- B. Early music education builds character.
- C. Personal appearances do not always indicate worth.
- D. Early memories are enduring.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The theme of enduring early memories highlights how formative experiences shape our identities and perceptions throughout life. This notion resonates with many, as childhood memories often leave lasting impressions. Option A, while insightful, suggests a focus on wealth, which is not the primary theme. Option B addresses music education, which may be relevant but does not capture the essence of memory. Option C discusses appearances and worth, diverging from the central idea of memory's lasting impact. Thus, the emphasis on early memories aligns most closely with the excerpt’s theme.
The theme of enduring early memories highlights how formative experiences shape our identities and perceptions throughout life. This notion resonates with many, as childhood memories often leave lasting impressions. Option A, while insightful, suggests a focus on wealth, which is not the primary theme. Option B addresses music education, which may be relevant but does not capture the essence of memory. Option C discusses appearances and worth, diverging from the central idea of memory's lasting impact. Thus, the emphasis on early memories aligns most closely with the excerpt’s theme.