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Kayleigh Young Mrs. Lewis Tx. History 3rd May 18, 2012 Womans Suffrage in Texas Woman in Texas began working for suffrage much later than women in other states. Many faced obstacles in the way of gaining suffrage, and one of the biggest disadvantages was living in the south. From late 1800s until 1919, when woman finally got the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th amendment, woman made great changes in society while working togather. Before Texas woman could vote they had to go through a series of events. In the North women started taking a stand for womens suffrage when African American men got the right to vote with the 15thamendment. They started thinking of how African American men got to vote, but women who were also rightful citizens of the U.S. did not. Two of the most important conventions in the path to suffrage were the Constitutional convention of 1868-69 the Constitutional convention of 1875, where many issues were discussed about womans rights and what could be done to achieve them. However nothing ever materialized. Some Texas women got a head start in suffrage by joining the Womans Christian Temperance League. This organization was made by women who wanted to deal with the issues alcohol brought to families by stopping the manufacture and sale of alcohol. The first few chapters were held around 1881 by Frances Willard, but they remained inactive from 1882 until 1883 when Jenny Bland

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Beauchamp became president. The organization started growing afterwards, and Membership was 1,500 by 1887 (Texas Handbook). African American women were also allowed but were put in separate chapters until a black leader could be found. There were many womens suffrage organizations by the late 1800s and early 1900s. One of the most known is the Texas Equal Rights Association, the first statewide female suffrage organization, which had many members that were both woman and men(Texas Handbook). In addition, many of its members were from the Womans Temperance League. The TERA was formed in 1893 by Rebecca Henry Hayes. Many other organizations were formed after this like the Texas Equal Suffrage League, which was formed by the Finnegan sisters in 1903. This organization was a plus for womens suffrage and the Texas Womens Suffrage Association, because they were all for the same cause: to help womens suffrage. In these organizations the majorities were woman but there were few men that wanted to support womans beliefs. There were many woman suffragists in Texas, and they were all trying to get the right to vote for woman. There were many great leaders of big organizations. For example Annette Finnegan and her sisters organized the Equal Suffrage League of Houston in 1903. She was the president of this organization later, and in 1905 their association came inactive because she had moved to a different state and without her leadership, the association failed. Few years had passed until a woman suffragist and clubwoman, Eleanor Brackenridge became president of the newly formed organization named the Equal Franchise Society. While she was in office, The society held frequent meetings, sponsored public lectures, and distributed large quantities of literature. (Texas Handbook) This captivated womens attention. Another much known leader was Minnie Fisher Cinningham, who was the president of the Equal Franchise Society now

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called the Texas Equal Suffrage Association. She was a very important factor to 19th amendment. There were many steps women had to take to get what they wanted, but they never gave up. Southern parts of Texas gave women more rights than other parts. Since they had a lot of Spanish influence, and this helped a little to get woman to start on womens suffrage. Many universities didnt allow woman to attend to their campus but that didnt stop women intent on going to a university. Many women started funding to form universities on their own. There were few who stand out like Baylor, Baylor University owes its founding to Robert E. B. Baylor, James Huckins, and William Milton Tryon, University of Texas and Texas Womens University. These schools are still some of the most known universities in Texas (HOT). Women in Texas often went to a Womens Club to talk about the issues and controversies that were going on. When many of the men left for World War one to fight and woman stayed and took their place, they started to work and do the men stuff to support their family. This helped them show that they could handle it very well. Woman didnt just stop there. With their organizations, they accomplished many other things that benefited everyone else. They made it possible to pass pure food and child labor laws that made working conditions better. Being always at home, woman were the ones that suffered when their husbands got drunk and spent all their paycheck gambling and on beer. However, the worst part was that they had to suffer the consequences and violence Dohoney is best known for his role in promoting prohibition many woman supported both womens suffrage and prohibition (HOT) In addition, women were mothers and they were worried about their children. So one of the things woman made was an age of sexual consent law.

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Women didnt stop until they accomplished their goals, and it was a moment of victory when Texas ratified the 19th amendment. Woman made a lot of changes to the U.S.; they made this country a little better. With the 19th amendment, women felt more appreciate and valued.

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Works Cited Curry, Haley . "The Women's Musseum." Women's Suffrage- Texas Style. N.p., Wednesday, August 18, 2010. Web. 26 Apr 2012. <http://blog.thewomensmuseum.org/2010/08/i-understand-we-have-nationaland.html>.

McArthur, Judith N.. " "TEXAS EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION," Handbook of Texas Online ."TEXAS EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION. Texas State Historical Association, n.d. Web. 26 Apr 2012. <http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/vit02>.

Taylor, Elizabeth A.. " Handbook of Texas Online ." Woman Suffrage. Texas State Historical Association., n.d. Web. 8 May 2012. <http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/viw01>.

. "Texas State Library and Archives Commission." Beginnings of the Movement . N.p., August 24, 2011.. Web. 26 Apr 2012. <https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/suffrage/beginnings/page1.html>.

. "Woman in Texas History." Timeline. N.p., 2007. Web. 8 May 2012. <http://www.womenintexashistory.org/timeline/>.

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. "Woman of the West ." Texas: Suffrage and Southern Politics. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr 2012. <http://theautry.org/explore/exhibits/suffrage/suffrage_tx.html>.

Reese, James V. Celebrating Texas. Austin: Lone Star Publishing J.V., 2003. 441. Print.