Susan B. Anthony
Biography and Correspondence
Susan Brownell Anthony (Feb. 15, 1820-Mar. 13, 1906) was born into a Quaker family, and with her friend and co-worker, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, became a major force for social reform in the United States. Her early Quaker background in New York brought her into movement for the abolition of slavery, temperance, and women’s rights. In 1863, they founded the Women’s Loyal National League, which advocated the abolition of slavery, followed by a paper for women’s rights called The Revolution and the National Woman Suffrage Association in the late 1860s.
In 1872, Anthony was arrested for illegally voting and went to trial, where she dramatically and passionately defended the right of women to be treated as equal citizens in one of the most famous speeches ever given for women’s rights. (For an account of the trial see: http://ecssba.rutgers.edu/docs/sbatrial.html) She refused to pay the fine and the government refused to take the issue further. In 1878, along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony advanced an amendment giving women the right to vote. It would ultimately become the Nineteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In 1979 her image became the first image of an American woman on a U.S. coin.
Anthony never married, in part because of the legal subjugation she felt that entailed. Had she married she would have been unable to sign contracts on her own behalf. Laws gave husbands absolute control over the family and its finances. This was one reason the Temperance Movement was seen as a woman’s issue. Men who abused alcohol could completely destroy their families with not legal recourse. Even if a husband was abusive, if a woman was able to gain a very rare divorce, usually the husband ended up with custody of any children. She is quoted as saying in 1877, “If women will not accept marriage with subjugation, nor men proffer it without, there is, there can be, no alternative. The woman who will not be ruled must live without marriage.”
Riggs House, Washington, D.C. Jan. 19, 1888
My Dear Mrs. Smith
I received your note when in Philadelphia A week ago and answered it to the address you gave me- but I fear you did not get it- so write tonight to make sure there shall be no failure- We devote the 2nd evening- Tuesday to Temperance- Miss Willard will speak for the National W.C.T.U. (Women’s Christian Temperance Union) and we want you or whoever you prefer- to speak 10 or 15 minutes for the World’s Temperance Union- Will you write me here- or to Miss Foster- 748 North 19th St- Philadelphia- who is to be your delegate- at earliest moment- We are trying hard to get our delegates and speakers settled into a program- which is no small matter for an eight days- sixteen session- Council!
I hear you are to be in Washington with Miss Willard the week previous to the Council- I am glad of it- Washington ought to be stormed with women demanding to be heard every winter- “The Powers that be” – not “ordained of God”- must not be obeyed- at least without constant protest!
So good night with love,
Susan B. Anthony
