Women’s Suffrage

1. Women’s Suffrage Carrie Catt ChasityDingess

2. Background • Born January 9th, 1859 • Died March 9th, 1947 at age 88 • Born in Ripon Wisconsin and spent her childhood in Charles City, Iowa • Graduated from Iowa State College • In 1885 Carrie married newspaper editor Leo Chapman, but he soon died in California • In 1890 she married George Catt a wealth engineer • Founded the League of Women Voters in 1920

3. Video of Speech • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L09bPH1z1kA

4. SOAPSTone • Subject: Carrie is trying to explain the reasons women should have the right to vote • “It is too obvious to require demonstration that woman suffrage, now covering half our territory, will eventually be ordained in all the nation. No one will deny it. The only question left is when and how will it be completely established.” • “Third, the leadership of the United States in world democracy compels the enfranchisement of its own women.”

5. SOAPStone • Occasion: Carrie gave the speech to Congress to try and make them realize that women should have the right to vote. • Audience: mostly Congress, but also the women that are for it and the men that are against it. • Purpose: The purpose of this speech is for Carrie to address Congress, and try to get women the right to vote. • Speaker: Carrie Chapman Catt • Tone: Carrie’s tone was very defensive, serious, and objective.

6. Analysis • “Do you realize that in no other country in the world with democratic tendencies is suffrage so completely denied as in a considerable number of our own states? There are thirteen black states where no suffrage for women exists, and fourteen others where suffrage for women is more limited than in many foreign countries.” • Carrie is trying to make her point that women should have the right to vote, and maybe if congress will pass the law in Iowa then other states will realize that women should have the right to vote.

7. Major Premise • “The time for woman suffrage has come. The woman's hour has struck. If parties prefer to postpone action longer and thus do battle with this idea, they challenge the inevitable. The idea will not perish; the party which opposes it may. Every delay, every trick, every political dishonesty from now on will antagonize the women of the land more and more, and when the party or parties which have so delayed woman suffrage finally let it come, their sincerity will be doubted and their appeal to the new voters will be met with suspicion. This is the psychology of the situation. Can you afford the risk? Think it over.” • Carrie is stating that the time for women’s suffrage has come, and that even if people want to wait and put this idea aside it isn’t going to be forgotten.

8. Ethos • “Woman suffrage is coming -- you know it. Will you, Honorable Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, help or hinder it?” • This is more of a manipulative question, like put yourself in the spot of a congressman. Wouldn’t you really think twice about women’s suffrage because this question is worded so strongly? This gives Carrie credibility for having such strong beliefs on women’s suffrage.

9. Pathos • “Some of you have been too indifferent to give more than casual attention to this question. It is worthy of your immediate consideration. A question big enough to engage the attention of our allies in wartime is too big a question for you to neglect.” • Carrie is basically trying to make Congress feel sympathy for women because they would neglect women’s suffrage.

10. Logos • “Do you realize that when you ask women to take their cause to state referendum you compel them to do this: that you drive women of education, refinement, achievement, to beg men who cannot read for their political freedom?” • Carrie is trying to persuade Congress to think that women actually do have knowledge just like men do.

11. Repitition • “Do you realize that in no other country in the world with democratic tendencies…” • “Do you realize that when you ask women to take their cause to state referendum you compel them to do this…” • “Do you realize that such anomalies as a college president asking her janitor to give her a vote…” • “Do you realize that women in increasing numbers indignantly resent…” • She repeats “Do you realize” because she is trying to make Congress realize she has valid reasons for women to have the right to vote.

12. Phrasing/Meaning • “Do you realize that when you ask women to take their cause to state referendum you compel them to do this: that you drive women of education, refinement, achievement, to beg men who cannot read for their political freedom?” • This is basically stating that Congress wont let a women with education and knowledge speak or vote, but they will let a man that doesn’t have any education or knowledge at all vote and speak their mind.

13. Powerful Line • “Some of you have been too indifferent to give more than casual attention to this question. It is worthy of your immediate consideration. A question big enough to engage the attention of our allies in wartime is too big a question for you to neglect.” • I chose this as a powerful line because she is giving strongly worded and thought out questions to the public.

14. To follow… • She helped to found the International Woman Suffrage Alliance (IWSA) in 1902, serving as its president from 1904 until 1923. • The IWSA remains in existence, now as the International Alliance of Women.

15. Questions…