March 4, 1913 Women March For the Vote

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Why Women Should Vote

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sourced by Barbara McPherson

Today marks the anniversary of the great march in Washington D.C. to gain attention for women's right to vote.  Five to eight thousand women marched on the day of Woodrow Wilson's inauguration.  Most were dressed in white, some in costume like Lady Liberty.  Women had been pushing for the vote since the century before.

Not all of the spectators were in favor of granting women the right to vote.  While the parade was legal, with all permits obtained, the women were subject to violence.  The police were present, but did nothing to protect the marchers.

"Of the estimated half million onlookers watching the parade instead of greeting the President-elect, not all were supporters of woman suffrage. Many were angry opponents of suffrage, or were upset at the march's timing. Some hurled insults; others hurled lighted cigar butts. Some spit at the women marchers; others slapped them, mobbed them, or beat them." About.com: Women's History

When we look at other cultures that oppress their women, saying that they are in the Dark Ages, we need only look back a few years to our own in this regard.  Many suffragettes were jailed for demanding full citizen rights.  Some were jailed for writing in chalk on the sidewalks outside the White House.

Women in America gained the right to vote in 1920.  When you have the opportunity to vote, take it.  It was a hard won right.