4-1 Discussion Historical Analysis
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Southern New Hampshire University *
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HIS200
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Political Science
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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Uploaded by MajorMoonSeaUrchin6
Hello everyone,
For this week's discussion, I chose this section “The suffrage movement suffered a major setback
in 1875, when the Supreme Court ruled, effectively, that a woman's right to vote was nowhere to be found in the Constitution as it was then written. Women's rights advocates had argued that the
Fourteenth Amendment forbade the states from denying them a fundamental right of citizenship. But the Supreme Court rejected this argument, ruling in
Minor v. Happersett
that although women are citizens, voting is not one of the "privileges and immunities of citizenship" protected by the Fourteenth Amendment.” This came from Module Four: Communicating Historical Ideas,
continued | Learning Block 4-1 | Page 1 of 2 (History M. H., 2024)
Historical causality is a fundamental concept in the study of history. It’s the idea that events and decisions in history do not occur in isolation but are often the result of previous actions, and these in turn shape future events. This cause-and-effect relationship is what drives the narrative of history. (History M. H., 2024)
In the context of the passage you provided, the Supreme Court’s ruling in 1875 in the case of Minor v. Happersett is a clear example of historical causality. The court’s decision that the Constitution, as it was then written, did not guarantee women’s right to vote was a significant event that had far-reaching effects. (History M. H., 2024)
This ruling was a major setback for the suffrage movement, which had been arguing that the Fourteenth Amendment forbade the states from denying them a fundamental right to citizenship. The Supreme Court’s rejection of this argument meant that the movement had to rethink its strategies and approach. (Editors, 2010)
The immediate effect was a halt in the progress that the suffrage movement had been making. However, this setback also catalyzed change. It forced advocates of women’s rights to shift their focus from arguing within the existing framework of the Constitution to pushing for a new amendment that would explicitly grant women the right to vote. (Editors, 2010)
This led to a renewed vigor in the suffrage movement and a change in tactics. Instead of trying to
fit women’s suffrage within the existing constitutional framework, advocates began pushing for a
new amendment. This eventually led to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote. (Editors, 2010) (Editors, 2010)
In this way, the Supreme Court’s decision in Minor v. Happersett (the cause) had a direct and significant impact on the course of the suffrage movement and the fight for women’s rights (the effect). This illustrates the concept of historical causality, showing how one event in history (the court’s decision) had a direct impact on subsequent events (the change in tactics of the suffrage movement and the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment). (Editors, 2010) (History M. H., 2024)
So, in conclusion, the concept of historical causality is a crucial tool in understanding the progression of historical events. It helps us see that history is not just a series of isolated incidents, but a complex web of interconnected events and decisions that shape the course of human society. The passage you provided is a perfect illustration of this concept in action.
(Editors, 2010) (History M. H., 2024)
The author’s central thesis about the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is that it was initially met with significant support and seemed destined for swift ratification and incorporation into the U.S.
Constitution. However, the momentum shifted dramatically due to rising opposition, particularly from women, and the emergence of legislative majorities in certain states against the ERA.
(History A. &., 2024) This is encapsulated in the following excerpt from the article: “By March 1973, with only eight more ratifications needed, the ERA appeared a certain addition to the Constitution. (History M. H., 2024) (Inc, 2024) But only five more states ratified during the next four years, and in that time an equal number of states sought to withdraw or, technically, rescind their endorsements. Vocal and influential opposition to the amendment arose, much of it expressed by women.” This passage underscores the unexpected turn of events that led to the ERA’s ultimate defeat. (Editors, 2010) Despite the initial optimism and rapid progress, the ERA did not become a part of the U.S. Constitution, illustrating the complexities and challenges inherent in the constitutional amendment process. (History M. H., 2024) (Editors, 2010)
References
Editors, H. (2010, July 21). Supreme Court defends women’s voting rights
. Retrieved from History: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/supreme-court-defends-womens-
voting-rights
History, A. &. (2024, 1 31). The Women’s Rights Movement, 1848–1917
. Retrieved from History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Historian, Women in Congress, 1917–2006. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2007. “The House Supports Women’s Suffrage, 1917–1919,” https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions: http://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/WIC/Historical-Essays/No-Lady/
Womens-Rights/
History, M. H. (2024). Winning the Right to Vote
. Retrieved from Module Four: Communicating Historical Ideas, continued | Learning Block 4-1 | Page 1 of 2: https://snhu.mindedgeonline.com/content.php?cid=170448
Inc, m. E. (2024, January ). Module Four: Communicating Historical Ideas, continued | Learning Block 4-1: The Woman Suffrage Movement and the Nineteenth Amendment MindEdge
. Retrieved January 31, 2024
KYVI, D. E. ((1996).Kyvig, D. E. (1996). Historical Misunderstandings and the Defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment. The Public Historian, 18(1), 45–63. https://doi.org/10.2307/3377881). Historical Misunderstandings and the Defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment. 1996
, 18(1), 45–63. Retrieved from https://www-jstor-
org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/stable/3377881?pq-origsite=summon&seq=1
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