Susan B. Anthony: On a Woman's Right to Vote: On a Woman's Right to Vote

by Rebecca Sjonger

In an era when women worldwide had few rights and could not vote, Susan B. Anthony risked her freedom and reputation by advocating for women's suffrage in the United States. This engaging title analyzes her 1873 speech On Women's Right to Vote, and its simple, but powerful, assertion that women are "persons." Additional material encourages readers to compare this speech to works by Sojourner Truth, as well as more modern women's rights advocates.

48 pages, Paperback

Published January 31, 2019

Reviews

[Amy Pickett · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books occupy a unique space at the intersection of pivotal American historical events and landmark persuasive speeches. The spoken word is a powerful tool for change; by making an effective argument (with a claim, evidence, warrants, and an appeal), a speaker can influence the thinking of his or her audience. Because there are no audio or video recordings of speeches as old as the Gettysburg Address, students and historians must employ primary source analysis skills to determine the creator, date, intended audience, purpose, and more. Each volume closes with modern figures, such as Barack Obama and Beyonce, who have also delivered speeches meant to sway their audiences. With engaging text and easily reproducible pages, the possibilities for classroom connections are plentiful.