Assignment: Document Analyses 1

 The primary source document that was examined for this assignment was the illustration entitled "The genii of intolerance – A dangerous ally for the cause of women's suffrage." The Genii of intolerance is a 1915 era political cartoon[1]. It is a political cartoon because it is depicting political issues such as prohibition and the women's right to vote. I was able to evaluate the inference because the illustration depicts genii coming up out of the liquor bottle and hovering over the woman. The woman is holding a sign that says votes for women, and the Genii is tearing it out of her hands.

As learned in class, the suffrage movement took place in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, emerging out of urban industrialism and liberal, socialist politics. The goal of this first wave of feminism was to open up opportunities for women, including giving women the right to vote. The illustration depicts the many obstacles that women faced during the suffrage movement. The women of this era were plagued by poverty, loneliness, and alcoholism from their husbands. The original purpose of this document was to deter alcoholism and give women the fight for the right to vote. The original author of this document remains a mystery to me, although the illustration does say "Puck" on it, indicating the author's last name[2]

This document reveals that during the 18th century, the American government formed male suffrage, and all men were given the right to vote. However, male suffrage was associated with weaknesses such as alcohol abuse and male were not only irresponsible citizens but they were also irresponsible in their families[3]. Women were against this kind of patriarchal model and they entered into politicization where they campaigned for restrictions to alcohol sales. The alcohol consumption made women suffer from poverty and domestic abuse and during the 19th century, women formed associations and demanded political emancipation[4].Women campaigned on 'prohibition and temperance'. In other words, women wanted a ban on the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. Focusing on the document, the cartoon shows a bottle labeled the challenges that women experienced. There is also a women banner written "votes for women'. In this case, prohibition means that organizations such as the Women's Christian  Temperance Union participated in the prohibition movement and there were positive results in that women gained the right to vote and the right to participate in national politics[5].  The suffrage movement that aimed at achieving the right to votes and the prohibition movement that aimed at restricting the sales of alcohol led to women's right to vote.

 In the document, the author reveals that women felt that they were treated as inferior human beings whose role was to raise children and home responsibilities.  Men believed that women were incapable or they could not participate in politics. However, women changed these attitudes and beliefs and realized that they were experiencing difficulties and they needed political rights.  For example, people like John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor established something called 'Enfranchisement of Women' that favored the women's suffrage[6]. The two were interested in empowering women and allowing them to access the freedom for education,  right to vote, right to participate in professional spheres, and other areas.  However, the document reveals the attitude of women toward the Anti-Suffrage League or an organization that opposed women's suffrage[7]. However, women did not focus on the failure but they formed the Women Suffrage Association in Michigan-small political groups that supported suffrage rights[8].  The groups used the political strategy of interacting with state lawmakers and could ask them to consider the bill. However, the state lawmakers did not favor them but they argued that they are not ready to make changes on such matters[9]. The small groups or the supports of suffrage rights did not lose hope but they communicated with the state House of Representatives. Remarkable, fifty of the House of Representatives voted for the women's suffrage[10]. However, for a constitutional amendment to be passed, a two-thirds majority is required and thus, the vote was counted as initial defeat. Nevertheless, the governor was one of the members of the Women Suffrage Association and he played a significant role in ensuring that the commission reviews the issue of women suffrage[11]. However, the commission did not review the issue and this was also a failure. The governor persuaded the legislators to have a special session to review the issue of woman suffrage and on a positive note, the legislators supported the constitutional amendment[12]. However, legislators did not provide full support but they asked the women suffrage supporters to wait for suggestions at the ballot box. In general, there was no constitutional interest and the legislators could not put into consideration the issue of women suffrage.  On a positive note, the prohibition advocates reviewed the issue of women suffrage[13].

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1]  The genii of intolerance – A dangerous ally for the cause of women's suffrage. Page 1

[2]  Ibid, 2

[3] Murdock, Catherine Gilbert. 1998. Domesticating drink: women, men, and alcohol in America, 1870-1940. Baltimore, Md: Johns Hopkins University Press. Pg, 9

[4] Ibid, 9

[5] Ibid, 10

[6] Nelson, Carolyn Christensen. 2004. Literature of the women's suffrage campaign in England. Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press. https://www.deslibris.ca/ID/405108. Pg, 5

[7] Ibid, 5

[8] McConnaughy M. Corrine. 2013. The Woman Suffrage Movement in America: A Reassessment. Cambridge University Press. Pg, 98

 

[9] Ibid, 98

[10] Ibid, 98

[11] Ibid, 98

[12] Ibid, 98

[13] Ibzid, 98

 

 

 

 

References

 

 

 

 

 

 

The genii of intolerance – A dangerous ally for the cause of women's suffrage. United States Legislative Information. https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3b49095/

 

 

Murdock, Catherine Gilbert. 1998. Domesticating drink: women, men, and alcohol in America,

1870-1940. Baltimore, Md:

 

Nelson, Carolyn Christensen. 2004. Literature of the women's suffrage campaign in England.

Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press. https://www.deslibris.ca/ID/405108

 

McConnaughy M. Corrine. 2013. The Woman Suffrage Movement in America: A Reassessment.

Cambridge University Press