The nationwide commemoration in 2020 of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment is an opportunity to explore not only women's long struggle to achieve this landmark moment, but also to engage in an exploration of women's civic engagement during the woman suffrage movement. The terms "woman suffrage" and "suffragist" often…

The commitment to the construction of a diverse and equitable democracy is even more imperative than ever given our changing demographics, growing inequality, and the eroding of gains of the civil rights movement. For instance, the criminalization of communities of color, with Blacks imprisoned five times more than Whites, and Hispanics nearly…

On August 18, 2020, The United States will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment which gave women the vote. Belle La Follette played an important role in helping women gain the right to vote guaranteed in this amendment. She advocated for women in her home state of Wisconsin and across the country. This article…

Studies indicate that as many as one-third of localities in the United States elect their leaders on partisan ballots. This would seem to violate the reformist idea that local government ought to be as insulated as possible from party politics. State and local governments continue to mandate changes to how citizens shall elect their local…

At the core of the epistemology of black identity in the 20th century United States is the assertion that freedom is a human right, not a privilege to be earned. By the late 19th century, an ideology of racial uplift had emerged that revolved around four concepts--compassion, service, education, and a commitment to social and economic justice for…

During the Reconstruction era, hundreds of disenfranchised women throughout the United States attempted to register and to vote, performing a participatory argument in an ongoing public controversy about the parameters of the polity. As rhetorical rituals, these women's voting efforts displayed an alternative social order and illuminated the…

This article examines why some black Southerners but not others were politically active during the early stages of the civil rights movement. Using a survey of more than 600 black Southerners in 1961, we investigate whether perceptions about opportunity or threat, politicized social capital and individual orientations toward social change shaped…

We describe a theory of legislative logic. This logic is based on the observation that each succeeding stage of the legislative process has increasingly stringent rules and becomes more consequential. This logic unevenly distributes the influence of social movements across the legislative process. Social movements should have less influence at…

Describes the work of Alice Paul in her 49-year struggle to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Discusses the differences between her proposed language for the amendment, drafted in 1922, and what she considered the flawed language of the amendment that passed Congress in 1972. Includes a legislative chronology for the Equal Rights Amendment. (CFR)

College students who worked as interns for the Chinese Progressive Association in New York City in 1988 describe their experiences. They helped the organization with their energy, knowledge of computers, and bilingual skills. However, they were dismayed to see the political disenfranchisement and the gerrymandering which occurs in the Chinatown…

Maintains that, even though women leaders have been added to the secondary-school social studies curriculum, the differences among them in style, personality, and tactics have not been included. Compares and contrasts the background and social action methods of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. (CFR)

Maintains that during the early 20th century the work of women teacher activists brought issues of social reform to the forefront. Describes the work of five Chicago women who helped advance women's rights, women's suffrage, and other social reform efforts. Contends that their work has not be adequately recognized. (CFR)

During the late 1960's and early 1970's, American society experienced high levels of student political activity. Through 1970 most of this activity was outside the realm of traditional politics (i.e., demonstrations and protests), but in 1971 the 26th Amendment took effect, enfranchising millions of young voters and changing the arena of political…

Describes the founding and the history of the League of Women Voters. Discusses curriculum materials and other citizenship education efforts initiated by the League. Concludes that only by creating an active, informed citizenry can the integrity of the U.S. political system be maintained. (CFR)

As a leader of social change in the South, Myles Horton (1) unionized southern textile workers and coal miners and advanced civil rights through his Highlander school; (2) conducted Highlander workshops for black leaders; (3) first popularized the song "We Shall Overcome"; and (4) initiated Citizenship Schools to help blacks register to…