Honor Women’s Voting Centennial

Senate Resolution No. 1211 BY: Senator LITTLE COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of New York State granting women the right to vote WHEREAS, On July 19, 1848, a Women's Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York; over 200 women and over 40 men including widely known activists Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Frederick Douglass attended the convention; unifying the causes of abolishing slavery and women's rights, a Declaration of Sentiments was signed and the Women's Rights Movement in New York State officially began; and WHEREAS, The struggle continued for 69 years before New York would pass the right to vote for women and 72 years before the 19th amendment would be ratified allowing women to vote throughout the nation; during this time, women would continue to fight for equal rights; and WHEREAS, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony formed the American Equal Rights Association, which focused on universal suffrage for all races and genders; when the 15th Amendment came out in 1870, many women were opposed to the amendment because it did not include suffrage for women; and WHEREAS, Two years later Susan B. Anthony was arrested in Rochester, New York, for trying to vote for Ulysses S. Grant in the presidential election; and though she was charged with a fine of $100, she did not pay it or receive jail time; and WHEREAS, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony would continue this fight until their deaths in the early 1900s; unfortunately, neither of them would get a chance to exercise their right to vote; and WHEREAS, Among many others continuing the fight for women in New York was Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, the President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA); and WHEREAS, One of her highlights was a dramatic protest in 1916, during a presidential ceremony where President Woodrow Wilson was on a yacht headed toward the Statue of Liberty for an electric lighting; women in bi-planes flew over the yacht, dropping small paper leaflets all saying "Votes for Women; after New York State granted women the right to vote in 1917, Carrie Lane Chapman Catt turned the NAWSA into a more modern lobbyist platform for women's rights; and WHEREAS, Through the efforts of Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, the women's suffrage cause was pushed to victory; she was able to persuade both the Democratic and Republican parties to include women's suffrage as part of their platforms; and WHEREAS, On November 6, 1917, women finally gained the right to vote in New York State; suffrage won in every borough and the large majority in New York City overcame a slight loss upstate, so that the measure carried by more than 100,000 votes statewide; and WHEREAS, In recognition of the Women's Suffrage movement and their history and important contribution to the heritage of the State of New York, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to join in the celebration of their 100th Anniversary so that present and future generations may come to appreciate the significance their history plays in the progression of our State and Nation; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of New York State granting women the right to vote, as well as to recognize its significant history and importance to the Nation's progress on women's rights.