List of Utah suffragists facts for kids
The right to vote is super important in a democracy. It lets people choose their leaders and have a say in how their community is run. For a long time, women in many places didn't have this right. They were called "suffragists" if they fought for it. Utah played a big part in the history of women getting the right to vote in the United States.
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What is Women's Suffrage?
Women's suffrage is the right for women to vote in elections. It's about making sure everyone, no matter their gender, has an equal voice. In the 1800s and early 1900s, many brave women and men worked hard to make this happen.
Utah's Special Role
Utah was unique because women here actually voted *before* the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920. Utah women first gained the right to vote in 1870. This made Utah one of the first places in the United States where women could cast a ballot. However, Congress took this right away in 1887. Utah women had to fight to get it back when Utah became a state in 1896.
Groups That Fought for the Vote
Many groups worked together to help women get the right to vote in Utah. They held meetings, wrote articles, and spoke to lawmakers.
Early Efforts
- Female Relief Society of Nauvoo: This group was formed in 1842. It was a women's organization that helped its members and community. They were important in showing women's strength and organization.
Working for the Vote
- Woman Suffrage Association of Utah: This was the main group fighting for women's voting rights in Utah. They worked hard to get the right to vote back after it was taken away.
- Utah Council of Women: This group also helped push for women's rights and other important causes.
- Colored Women's Republican Club: This club represented African American women. They worked for both voting rights and civil rights.
Important Utah Suffragists
Many people in Utah dedicated their lives to the cause of women's suffrage. They spoke out, organized, and never gave up.
Key Leaders
- Emmeline B. Wells: She was a very important leader in the Utah suffrage movement. She edited a newspaper called the Woman's Exponent. She also spoke at many national suffrage meetings.
- Martha Hughes Cannon: She made history in 1896. She became the first woman in the United States to be elected as a state senator. This was a huge step for women in politics.
- Sarah M. Kimball: She was an early leader in the Female Relief Society. She helped organize women and supported their right to vote.
- Eliza R. Snow: A respected leader, she often spoke about women's roles and rights. She encouraged women to be active in their communities.
- Susa Young Gates: She was a writer and activist. She worked hard to get the vote back for women in Utah. She also helped preserve the history of the suffrage movement.
- Emily S. Richards: She was a strong speaker and advocate for women's rights. She traveled to Washington D.C. to speak about Utah women's desire to vote.
Other Brave Suffragists
Many other people worked tirelessly for the cause. Here are some of them:
- Phebe Y. Beattie
- Margaret N. Caine
- George Q. Cannon
- Lucy A. Clark
- Margaret Zane Cherdron
- Elizabeth M. Cohen
- Marilla M. Daniels
- Maria Y. Dougall
- Julia P. M. Farnsworth
- Ruth May Fox
- Elizabeth R. Fraser
- Annie Thompson Godbe
- Augusta W. Grant
- Elizabeth A. Hayward
- Elizabeth Howard
- Hannah Lapish
- Nellie Little
- Alice Nesbitt
- Anna T. Piercey
- Mary Minnie Quay
- Lovern Robertson
- Aurelia S. Rogers
- Lulu L. Shepard (Salt Lake City)
- Jane Skolfield
- Bathsheba W. Smith
- Minnie J. Snow
- Emily W. Stevenson
- Anstis Elmina Shepard Taylor
- Elizabeth A. Taylor
- Florence L. Westcott
- Seraph Young
- Zina D. H. Young
- Zina P. Young Card
National Suffragists in Utah
Famous national leaders also visited Utah to support the cause.
- Susan B. Anthony: A very famous national suffrage leader. She visited Utah and spoke to women here.
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton: Another key national leader. She also came to Utah to encourage the suffrage movement.
- Carrie Chapman Catt: She was a later leader of the national suffrage movement. She helped lead the final push for the 19th Amendment.
- Clara Bewick Colby
- Mary Garrett Hay
- Elizabeth Lyle Saxon
Important Places
Some buildings in Salt Lake City played a role in the suffrage movement.
- City and County Building: This building was often a place for public meetings and political events. Suffragists likely gathered here.
- Council Hall: This historic building also hosted important discussions and decisions.
See also
