Controversies in the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution.
Because of centuries-long oppression of women, women today are stronger and are more courageous in speaking out and fighting for their rights, from choosing the career they want to take, to voting in the elections.
Before the Civil War, black people were considered to hold no rights at all. After the Civil War in the United States, the country were faced with various legal challenges which included defining what being a citizen of a country means, in order for the African Americans and slaves to be included in the definition (United States National Archives and Records Administration 107).
Also, there was confusion on who were qualified to be citizens of the United States because it was questioned whether those who rebelled against the government should be considered citizens or not. Because of these legal challenges, the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was born, July 28, 1868 (United States National Archives and Records Administration 107).
After the Civil War, the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted as among the amendments for reconstruction. Because of the Fourteenth Amendment, African Americans and former slaves were finally given Constitutional rights. However, the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, while redefining the Constitutional rights of African Americans and slaves, became questionable to women (Woods 83).
This amendment was unacceptable especially to women because it of the inclusion of the word male. During this time, women were all active fighting for womens suffrage. At the second section of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, voting rights was being discussed along with the word male (United States National Archives and Records Administration 107).
Some womens rights advocates supported the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, because they were focusing on the assurance that African Americans were finally given full citizenship and were entitled to equality. However, womens rights supporters like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were nonetheless outraged since they were offended by the concentration of the amendment only on male voters (Woods 83).
While it was true that the amendment was about equality and equity for African Americans and former slaves, the women felt that it was contradicting. Through this amendment, the rights of other people, the women in particular, were ignored. The amendment simply betrayed the basics of equality. While it supported racial equality, it denied gender equality (Nies 87).
Such controversy brought about the founding of the American Woman Suffrage Association by Howe and Stone. The Womans Journal was also published to further promote the rights of the women and to defeat the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. From this, a paper called Revolution was being distributed, and another organization was founded by Stanton and Anthony, called the National Woman Suffrage Association (Nies 87).
It was only in the 19th century when the conflict was finally settled. These two womens rights organizations decided to work hand in hand, and they eventually formed a new, stronger union, which was later on called the National American Woman Suffrage Association. In the first article of the amendment, there was no mention of the word male and female while explicitly discussing suffrage (United States National Archives and Records Administration 107).
Because of the combined efforts of women, they are now finally allowed to vote and enjoy all their Constitutional rights.
Before the Civil War, black people were considered to hold no rights at all. After the Civil War in the United States, the country were faced with various legal challenges which included defining what being a citizen of a country means, in order for the African Americans and slaves to be included in the definition (United States National Archives and Records Administration 107).
Also, there was confusion on who were qualified to be citizens of the United States because it was questioned whether those who rebelled against the government should be considered citizens or not. Because of these legal challenges, the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was born, July 28, 1868 (United States National Archives and Records Administration 107).
After the Civil War, the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted as among the amendments for reconstruction. Because of the Fourteenth Amendment, African Americans and former slaves were finally given Constitutional rights. However, the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, while redefining the Constitutional rights of African Americans and slaves, became questionable to women (Woods 83).
This amendment was unacceptable especially to women because it of the inclusion of the word male. During this time, women were all active fighting for womens suffrage. At the second section of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, voting rights was being discussed along with the word male (United States National Archives and Records Administration 107).
Some womens rights advocates supported the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, because they were focusing on the assurance that African Americans were finally given full citizenship and were entitled to equality. However, womens rights supporters like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were nonetheless outraged since they were offended by the concentration of the amendment only on male voters (Woods 83).
While it was true that the amendment was about equality and equity for African Americans and former slaves, the women felt that it was contradicting. Through this amendment, the rights of other people, the women in particular, were ignored. The amendment simply betrayed the basics of equality. While it supported racial equality, it denied gender equality (Nies 87).
Such controversy brought about the founding of the American Woman Suffrage Association by Howe and Stone. The Womans Journal was also published to further promote the rights of the women and to defeat the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. From this, a paper called Revolution was being distributed, and another organization was founded by Stanton and Anthony, called the National Woman Suffrage Association (Nies 87).
It was only in the 19th century when the conflict was finally settled. These two womens rights organizations decided to work hand in hand, and they eventually formed a new, stronger union, which was later on called the National American Woman Suffrage Association. In the first article of the amendment, there was no mention of the word male and female while explicitly discussing suffrage (United States National Archives and Records Administration 107).
Because of the combined efforts of women, they are now finally allowed to vote and enjoy all their Constitutional rights.
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