Susan B. Anthony was a pioneer of women’s rights in the late 19th century. She paved the way for women’s suffrage in the United States.
Susan B. Anthony Overview:
Occupation | Civil Rights Leader |
Full Name | Susan Brownell Anthony |
Born | February 15, 1820 in Adams, Massachusetts |
Died | March 13, 1906 in Rochester, New York |
Best known for | Fighting for women’s right to vote |
Biography of Susan B. Anthony:
Where did Susan B. Anthony grow up?
She was born in Adams, Massachusetts on February 15, 1820. She has six brothers and sisters of hers, some of whom were heavily involved in the civil rights movement.
When she was six years old, her family moved to Battenville, New York, where she was homeschooled because her father felt the local schools were not good enough. Life then becomes difficult for Susan and her family. Her father lost almost everything in the economic crash of 1837. Susan started teaching to earn money to pay off her father’s debts.
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
Believe it or not in America today, women did not always have the same legal rights as men even before the law was enacted. Especially since they weren’t even allowed to vote.
Susan B. Anthony was a very intelligent woman who believed that women should have the same rights as men. She first saw this at her workplace, where she earned about a quarter of what men earned in the same job.
It didn’t seem right to her. She helped the government enact laws that gave women the right to vote and gave women equal rights with men. First, she spoke at parliaments and conferences. Later, she helped run the civil rights newspaper The Revolution with women’s activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
To continue her struggle for women’s suffrage, Susan B. Anthony ran for election in November 1872. This was illegal at the time and she was fined $100 for voting. She refused to pay her fine. Her rebellious act of voting proved to be a great way to spread the message that women should fight for their right to vote.
In 1869 Susan founded the National Women’s Suffrage Association with Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Through this organization, Anthony campaigned for women to vote. She has since devoted her 37 years of her life to this work.
During this time, Susan made considerable progress, but it took another 14 years after her Susan’s death before women gained the right to vote. On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified. He said everyone has the right to vote, regardless of gender. Susan first introduced this change in his 1878.
Interesting Facts about Susan B. Anthony
The B. stands for Brownell.
There was a United States coin minted in her honor called the Susan B. Anthony dollar. It was a one dollar coin about the size of a quarter.
The house where she was born is now the home of the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace museum. It opened in 2010.
Susan was a very smart child. She was only three years old when she learned to read and write.