Equality's Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America

Lucy Burns  (1879-1966), suffragist, was born  July 28, 1879 . The following are some links to learn more: Turning Point Suffragist Memorial biography of Lucy Burns National Park Service biography of Lucy Burns Oregon Secretary of State biography of Lucy Burns Encyclopedia Brittanica biography of Lucy Burns This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

Ida B. Wells-Barnett  (1862-1931), civil rights activist, journalist, and suffragist, was born July 16, 1862 . The following are some links to learn more: National Women's History Museum biography of Ida B. Wells-Barnett National Park Service biography of Ida B. Wells Smithsonian Magazine   article about Ida B. Wells New York Times   obituary of Ida B. Wells The Guardian   article about Ida B. Wells This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

Mary McLeod Bethune  (1875-1955), educator and civil rights activist, was born  July 10, 1875 . The following are some links to learn more: National Women's History Museum brief biography of Mary McLeod Bethune Bethune-Cookman University profile of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Encyclopedia Brittanica entry on Mary McLeod Bethune Article about Mary McLeod Bethune statue in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

Henry Ward Beecher  (1813-1887), abolitionist, was born June 24, 1813 . The following are some links to learn more: Connecticut History brief biography of Henry Ward Beecher Ohio History Center brief biography of Henry Ward Beecher National Women's History Museum profile of Henry Ward Beecher National Park Service description of Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

“Political power is never given away; you have to take it.” --Joaquin Avila Joaquin Avila  (1948-2018), civil rights activist and voting rights attorney, was born June 23, 1948 . The following are some links to learn more: Joaquin Avila 2015 interview with the Monterey County Weekly Joaquin Avila New York Times obituary Joaquin Avila Washington Post obituary Joaquin Avila Seattle Times obituary 1996 MacArthur Foundation Fellows Program brief biography of Joaquin Avila This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more

The  Twenty-Third Amendment , proposed by Congress June 16, 1960 and ratified March 29, 1961, gave residents of Washington DC the right to vote for president and vice president. The amendment did not address other issues of representation for Washington DC resident. Residents of Washington DC do not have representation in the U.S. Senate, and their representation in the U.S. House is a non-voting delegate. National Museum of American History  article about the 23rd Amendment National Constitution Center  article about the 23rd Amendment Time Magazine  brief article about the passage of the 23rd Amendment Washington Post perspective piece by Kyla Sommers about  DC Statehood "The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entit...

"I appeal on behalf of four millions of men, women, and children who are chattels in the Southern States of America, not because they are identical with my race and color, though I am proud of that identity, but because they are men and women." --Sarah Parker Remond Sarah Parker Remond (1826-1894), abolitionist and suffragist, was born June 6, 1826 . The following are some links to learn more: History of American Women profile of Sarah Parker Remond Zinn Education Project profiles of Black abolitionists, including Sarah Parker Remond Massachusetts Humanities article about Sarah Parker Remond's activism Iowa State University Archives of Women's Political Communication brief profile of Sarah Parker Remond National Park Service article about the international history of the U.S. suffrage movement This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide...

"The motto of our government is 'Proclaim liberty to all inhabitants of the land!' and here, where liberty is so highly extolled and glorified by every man in it, one-half of the inhabitants are not put under her laws, but are ruled over by the other half, who can take all they possess. How is Liberty pleased with such worship? … All we ask of the town is not to rule over them as they rule over us, but to be on an equality with them." --Abby Hadassah Smith Abby Hadassah Smith (1797-1878), suffragist, was born  June 1, 1797 . The following are some links to learn more: Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame entry about  the Smith Family , including Abby Hadassah Smith Encyclopedia Brittanica  article about Abby Hadassah Smith Connecticut History article about the Smith Sisters, their cows, and women's rights History of American Women blog  article about Abby Hadassah Smith and her sister Julia Evelina Smith This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this d...

Julia Evelina Smith  (1792-1886), suffragist, was born May 27, 1792 . The following are some links to learn more: Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame entry about the Smith Family , including Julia Evelina Smith Encyclopedia Brittanica article about Julia Evelina Smith Hartford Courant article about Julia Evelina Smith History of American Women blog article about Julia Evelina Smith and her sister Abby Hadassah Smith This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

" Education keeps the key of life; and liberal education insures the first conditions of freedom, – namely, adequate knowledge and accustomed thought. " --Julia Ward Howe Julia Ward Howe  (1819-1910), abolitionist and suffragist, was born May 27, 1819 . The following are some links to learn more: National Women's Hall of Fame brief biography of Julia Ward Howe National Women's History Museum brief biography of Julia Ward Howe Poetry Foundation profile of Julia Ward Howe Library of Congress article about Julia Ward Howe Turning Point Suffragist Memorial profile of Julia Ward Howe This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more

"Peaceful revolutions are slow but sure. It takes time to leaven a great unwieldy mass like this nation with the leavening ideas of justice and liberty, but the evolution is all the more certain in its results because it is so slow." --Susette La Flesche Tibbles Susette La Flesche Tibbles (1854-1903), civil rights activist and suffragist, was born in 1854. The following are some links to learn more: National Women's History Museum profile of Susette La Flesche Tibbles National Women's Hall of Fame profile of Susette La Flesche Nebraska Studies profile of Susette La Flesche Tibbles National Portrait Gallery portrait of Susette La Flesche Tibbles Article, " 3 Women of Color Suffragists You Should Know " This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more

Evelyn Thomas Butts (1924-1993), civil rights activist and politician, was born May 22, 1924 . The following are some links to learn more: Biography of Evelyn Thomas Butts in the Encyclopedia Virginia Washington Post obituary of Evelyn Thomas Butts Zinn Education Project article about Evelyn T. Butts and end of poll taxes Biographical entry about Evelyn Butts at Virginia Changemakers site Article about Fearless , a biography of Evelyn Thomas Butts written by her daughter Charlene Butts Ligon This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

"Su voto es su voz." "Your vote is your voice." --Willie Velasquez William C. Velásquez (1944-1988), civil rights activist, was born May 9, 1944 . The following are some links to learn more: William C. Velasquez Institute biography of Willie Velasquez New York Times obituary for Willie Velasquez Texas State Historical Association brief biography of Willie Velasquez Trailer for PBS documentary "Willie Velasquez: Your Vote is Your Voice"  an d NBC news article about the documentary This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.  

"I believe unconditionally in the ability of people to respond when they are told the truth. We need to be taught to study rather than believe, to inquire rather than to affirm." --Septima Poinsette Clark Septima Poinsette Clark  (1898-1987), educator and civil rights activist, was born May 3, 1898 . The following are some links to learn more: Biographical entry about Septima Poinsette Clark in the Stanford University Martin Luther King Jr. Encyclopedia Zinn Education Project "This Day in History" entry on Septima Poinsette Clark National Park Service brief biography of Septima Poinsette Clark Time Magazine "Unsung Women" profile of Septima Poinsette Clark This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

"I'm here to register to vote." --Rosanell Eaton Rosanell Eaton (1921-2018), civil rights activist, was born April 14, 1921. The following are some links to learn more: President Obama's New York Times Magazine letter about voting rights heroes including Rosanell Eaton NPR profile of Rosanell Eaton New York Times obituary of Rosanell Eaton Washington Post obituary of Rosanell Eaton Washington Post article about recent legal battles for voting rights This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

"If people don't vote, everything stays the same." --Dolores Huerta Dolores Huerta , civil rights activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, was born April 10, 1930 . The following are some links to learn more: Dolores Huerta Foundation biography of Dolores Huerta National Women's History Museum biography of Dolores Huerta National Park Service biography of Dolores Huerta NPR interview with Dolores Huerta Washington Post article about Dolores Huerta This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

''My vocation has been to wage a crusade against lynching, disenfranchisement, peonage, public segregation, injustice, denial of service in public places for color, in war time and peace.'' --William Monroe Trotter William Monroe Trotter  (1872-1934), civil rights activist, was born  April 7, 1872 . The following are some links to learn more: National Park Service biography of William Monroe Trotter Encyclopedia Brittanica article about William Monroe Trotter University of Michigan timeline of William Monroe Trotter's life events NPR Fresh Air interview about William Monroe Trotter's life and activism White House Historical Association brief article about William Monroe Trotter This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

"Our object should be not only to end this terrible war now, but to prevent its recurrence. All must admit that slavery is the cause of it. Without slavery we should this day be a united and happy people. . . . The principles of our Republic are wholly incompatible with slavery." --Thaddeus Stevens Thaddeus Stevens  (1792-1868), abolitionist and politician, was born  April 4, 1792 . The following are some links to learn more: U.S. Congress biography of Thaddeus Stevens National Endowment for the Humanities Magazine article about Thaddeus Stevens Library of Congress timeline of Thaddeus Stevens' life events Encyclopedia Brittanica article about Thaddeus Stevens This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

“As residents of the United States, we claim a common manhood with all other nationalities, and believe we should have that manhood recognized according to the principles of common humanity and American freedom.” --Wong Chin Foo Wong Chin Foo  (1847-1898), civil rights activist, was born in 1847 . The following are some links to learn more: Museum of Chinese in America biography of Wong Chin Foo Chinese American Exlusion/Inclusion exhibit entry about Wong Chin Foo Chinese Historical Society of America review of a biography about Wong Chin Foo Grand Rapids Historical Commission brief biography of Wong Chin Foo  and a copy of his naturalization papers Article about s tudents researching and creating a graphic novel about Wong Chin Foo This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.

“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community…Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.” --Cesar Chavez César Chávez (1927-1993), civil rights activist, was born March 31, 1927 . The following are some links to learn more: United Farm Works biography of Cesar Chavez Cesar Chavez Foundation biography of Cesar Chavez Encyclopedia Brittanica biography of Cesar Chavez California Museum biography of Cesar Chavez New York Times obituary of Cesar Chavez Scholastic biography of Cesar Chavez This blog post is part of an ongoing series of "this date in history" blog posts that highlight some of the people and events of voting rights history. Links provide an opportunity for students and teachers to explore and learn more.