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Hosted by the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speakers Bureau 2025Prior to 1920, women were denied the vote in the majority of elections in the United States. The struggle for enfranchisement began with the birth of our nation and was strategized differently in our local, state, and federal elections. Despite what people today believe to be a straightforward goal, the path to women’s suffrage was infused with sexism and racism and triggered a fear of feminism whose roots are still seen today.
While wealthy women advocates played a vital role in the suffrage movement, they were not the only ones seeking enfranchisement. From attorney Ellen Martin, the first woman to vote in Illinois, to Ida B. Wells, a woman who did not let racism silence her voice, women’s suffrage has been a battle hard fought by a diverse group of activists in Illinois.
The presentation takes approximately 45 minutes, with extra time at the end for Q&A, making it approximately one hour.
Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom and the Illinois General Assembly [through the Illinois Arts Council Agency], as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Lansing Historical Museum - located in Lansing Library's upper level, School Street and Indiana Avenue, 60438, 2750 Indiana Ave, Lansing, IL 60438-2226, United States,Lansing, Illinois
