Voices for Votes Preparation

The Library of Congress

Voices for Votes - Suffrage Strategies

Collection and Preparation of Documents

Before beginning the unit, collect and print out primary source documents from American Memory and other sources that relate to strategies used to achieve women's suffrage. See How to Print and Save for printing tips.

Create motivational displays in the classroom, hall or library. Choose from the documents in the table below.

Note: Plan for sufficient amount of time to complete the display.

Suffrage strategies might include:

*Create a political banner* Suffragists Mrs. Stanley McCormick and Mrs. Charles Parker, April 22, 1913	*Create and wear a political button or pin* Yellow delegates' ribbon with white button	*Create a political ribbon* Yellow ribbon from 1911 Suffrage Parade
*Draw a political cartoon* The apotheosis of suffrage Election Day! Women's sphere cartoon	*Design a postcard* Postcard of Abraham Lincoln statue with suffrage caption Postcard of Lucretia Mott "Men who love freedom" postcard	*Disobey the law to make a statement* An account of the proceedings on the trial of Susan B. Anthony
*Design a poster or broadside* Suffrage campaign days in New Jersey. Broadside on suffrage parade, New York City, April 1911 Votes for women! The woman's reason. ... National American woman suffrage association. Headquarters: 505 Fifth Avenue, New York	*Form an association* Woman suffrage headquarters in Upper Euclid Avenue, Cleveland Suffragists Mrs. Stanley McCormick and Mrs. Charles Parker, April 22, 19132 Anne F. Miller's NAWSA membership certificatee	*Meet with government officials* Address to the Legislature of New-York, adopted by the State Woman's Rights Convention Governor Edwin P. Morrow signing the Anthony Amendment--Ky. was the twenty-fourth state to ratify, January 6, 1920
*Give a speech* Stump speaking--In the days of "Old Dobbin" and Derby hats Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch exhorted the Wall Street crowds Breaking in suffrage speakers - Mrs. E.R. Smith The constitutional rights of the women of the United States: an address before the International Council of Women	*Hold a convention* The first convention ever called to discuss the civil and political rights of women, Seneca Falls, N.Y., July 19, 20, 1848 26th Convention of the Kentucky equal rights	*March in a parade* Official program - Woman suffrage procession, Washington, D.C. March 3, 1913 Suffragists marching, probably in New York City in 1913 Suffrage parade, New York City, May 6, 1912 Head of suffrage parade, Washington, D.C.
*Form a political party* The woman's party campaign for equal rights	*Perform a pageant or skit* Florence F. Noyes as "Liberty" in suffrage pageant	*Seek endorsement by other groups* "Woman suffrage co-equal with man suffrage."
*Walk in a picket line* The first picket line - College day in the picket line	*Write a declaration* Declaration of Sentiments Adopted at Seneca Fall Convention, 1848	*Write a book, pamphlet or news article* Widen the Horizon
*Write a persuasive letter* Frederick Douglass letter	*Write a petition* The Memorial of Victoria C. Woodhull	*Write a resolution* Resolutions adopted at Seneca Falls Convention, 1848
*Write a song* Shall women vote Suffrage song

Tips for your display:

This is a small sampling of primary source suffrage material available online.

Laminate your documents in order to preserve them.

Make sure to include complete bibliographic material on the reverse of the document.

Older students may wish to locate and prepare their own suffrage documents.

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Last updated 06/30/2003