Why does Anthony read the preamble to the Constitution in her speech "Woman’s Rights to the Suffrage"?
to demonstrate that both women and men were involved in writing the United States' founding documents
To understand why Susan B. Anthony read the preamble to the Constitution in her speech "Woman’s Rights to the Suffrage," we first need to consider the historical context and Anthony's goal with her speech.
Susan B. Anthony was a prominent American suffragist and women's rights advocate in the 19th century. Her speech "Woman’s Rights to the Suffrage" was delivered at the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) convention in 1873.
In this speech, Anthony argued for women's right to vote by invoking the principles of the United States Constitution. By reading the preamble to the Constitution, she aimed to demonstrate that women were being denied their natural rights as citizens.
Here's how you can explore more details about Anthony's speech and her reasons for reading the preamble:
1. Research Anthony's life and activism: Start by learning about Susan B. Anthony and her role in the women's suffrage movement. Look for biographies, articles, or historical records that provide insights into her motivations and beliefs.
2. Study the suffrage movement: Understand the historical context of the women's suffrage movement in the United States. Analyze the strategies, arguments, and challenges faced by suffragists during that time.
3. Read the speech: Find and read the full text of Anthony's speech, "Woman’s Rights to the Suffrage," to get a deeper understanding of her arguments. Pay close attention to the passages where she references the Constitution.
4. Analyze Anthony's arguments: In the speech, Anthony likely used the preamble to the Constitution to highlight the principles of equality, justice, and democracy that the document espouses. She could have argued that women, being citizens, were entitled to the same rights and privileges as men, including the right to vote.
By examining Anthony's speech and the historical context, you can gain a clearer understanding of why she chose to read the preamble to the Constitution in her presentation on women's suffrage.