Carrie Chapman CattBorn on January 9, 1859, in Ripon, Wisconsin Carrie (Lane) Chapman Catt was a strong suffragette. Her role model, Susan B. Anthony, inspired her to fight for women's rights. Chapman Catt eventually took Anthony's place as the president of the National American Women's Suffrage Association (NAWSA.)
She was the only woman in her college class, but she was also at the top of it. While becoming more familiar with the role and the government she says, |
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In 1885 she married Leo Chapman, who worked for a newspaper company. He died of typhoid fever lot long after, so Chapman Catt dedicated herself to fighting for suffrage. In 1890, she married George Catt. At the same time, Chapman Catt began speaking internationally for NAWSA. This solidified her role as a major suffragette. This was the time she became the president of the organization, and her responsibilities shifted to speech-making, recruiting more women, and increasing her political experience. In her speech, 'The Crisis,' which she presented at the NAWSA Emergency Convention, she says,
"Sisters, let me repeat, the Woman's Hour has struck!" This was to make it clear to all suffragists that the time to act was now. In 1915, she began really working toward making the Nineteenth Amendment. She managed to win over both the Senate's and the House of Representative's support, and in 1918, President Wilson joined the cause too. In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was passed, and women could vote. She died on March 9, 1947, leaving behind a trail of liberation for women everywhere. |
For an interactive timeline of Catt's life, click here.