Susan B. Anthony
Full Name and Common Aliases
Susan Brownell Anthony, commonly known as Susan B. Anthony, was a pioneering figure in the women's suffrage movement in the United States. Her name is synonymous with the fight for women's rights, and she is often affectionately referred to simply as Susan B. by those who admire her contributions to social justice.
Birth and Death Dates
Susan B. Anthony was born on February 15, 1820, in Adams, Massachusetts, and she passed away on March 13, 1906, in Rochester, New York. Her life spanned a period of significant social and political change in America, much of which she helped to shape.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Susan B. Anthony was an American by nationality. Her professions included being a social reformer, women's rights activist, and a key leader in the women's suffrage movement. She dedicated her life to advocating for equal rights and was instrumental in the eventual passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted women the right to vote.
Early Life and Background
Susan B. Anthony was born into a Quaker family with a strong tradition of social activism. Her parents, Daniel and Lucy Read Anthony, were committed to the abolitionist movement, which undoubtedly influenced Susan's own path. Raised in a household that valued education and social justice, Susan was encouraged to think critically and act on her convictions from a young age. She received her education at a Quaker boarding school in Philadelphia, which further solidified her commitment to equality and reform.
Major Accomplishments
Susan B. Anthony's major accomplishments are deeply intertwined with the women's suffrage movement. In 1851, she met Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and the two formed a lifelong partnership dedicated to women's rights. Together, they organized the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869, which later merged with another organization to become the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Anthony served as the president of this organization from 1892 to 1900.
One of her most notable actions was her illegal vote in the 1872 presidential election, for which she was arrested and fined. This act of civil disobedience brought national attention to the suffrage movement and highlighted the injustices faced by women. Her trial and subsequent speeches galvanized public support and laid the groundwork for future legislative changes.
Notable Works or Actions
Susan B. Anthony was not only a leader but also a prolific writer and speaker. She traveled extensively, giving speeches and organizing events to promote women's rights. Her collaboration with Elizabeth Cady Stanton resulted in the publication of "The History of Woman Suffrage," a comprehensive account of the movement's struggles and achievements.
Anthony's dedication to the cause was unwavering, and she worked tirelessly to gather support for women's suffrage. Her efforts included lobbying Congress, organizing petitions, and engaging with other reform movements, such as temperance and abolition, to build a broad coalition for change.
Impact and Legacy
Susan B. Anthony's impact on American society is profound and enduring. Her relentless advocacy for women's rights paved the way for the eventual passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, fourteen years after her death. This amendment, often referred to as the "Susan B. Anthony Amendment," stands as a testament to her life's work and the movement she helped to lead.
Her legacy extends beyond suffrage; she inspired generations of activists to continue the fight for equality and justice. Her image was immortalized on the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin, making her the first woman to be depicted on U.S. currency, further cementing her place in American history.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Susan B. Anthony is widely quoted and remembered for her eloquent and powerful speeches that articulated the fundamental principles of equality and justice. Her words continue to resonate because they capture the essence of the struggle for human rights and the belief in the inherent dignity of all people. Quotes such as "Failure is impossible" and "Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less" reflect her unwavering commitment to the cause and inspire those who continue to fight for equality today.
Her life and work serve as a reminder of the power of perseverance and the impact one individual can have on the course of history. Susan B. Anthony's legacy lives on in the ongoing efforts to achieve gender equality and in the hearts of those who continue to draw inspiration from her courage and conviction.
Quotes by Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony's insights on:
It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less
Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation.
There should never be another season of silence until women had the same rights everywhere on this green earth, as men.
No matter what the motive, love of ease, or a desire to save from suffering the unborn innocent, the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed. It will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; but oh, thrice guilty is he who drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime!
The religious persecution of the ages has been done under what was claimed to be the command of God.
It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. ... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less.
Sweeter even than to have had the joy of children of my own has it been for me to help bring about a better state of things for mothers generally, so that their unborn little ones could not be willed away from them.
What you should do is to say to outsiders that a Christian has neither more nor less rights in our association than an atheist.
The work of woman is not to lessen the severity or the certainty of the penalty for the violation of the moral law, but to prevent this violation by the removal of the causes which lead to it.
Here, in this very first paragraph of the Declaration, is the assertion of the natural right of all to the ballot; for how can 'the consent of the governed' be given if the right to vote be denied?