[ Founding Sisters and the Nineteenth Amendment (Turning Points) - IPS By Clift, Eleanor ( Author ) Hardcover 2003 ]

by Eleanor Clift

A high-profile journalist brings the women's suffrage movement to life in this latest addition to the Turning Points series. On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified and women in America finally won the right to vote. Now, in this riveting account, journalist and pundit Eleanor Clift captures the drama of the women's suffrage movement-and shows how the issues and arguments that surrounded the suffragettes still reverberate today. Beginning with the Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention of 1848, Clift introduces us to the movement's leaders, takes us on marches and demonstrations, and profiles the opposition-anti-suffragettes, both men and women, who would do anything to stop women from getting the vote. The story culminates in the dramatic struggle to pass the 19th Amendment-a struggle that ultimately came down to the vote of a single legislator in Tennessee. Eleanor Clift (Washington, DC) is a contributing editor for Newsweek, where she reports on the White House, presidential politics, and a variety of national issues. She is a regular panelist on the nationally syndicated TV show The McLaughlin Group and a political analyst for the Fox News Network. With her husband, Tom Brazaitis, she is the author of Madam President and War without Bloodshed.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Historical, Womens Studies

Hardcover

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Eleanor Roeloffs Clift is an American news editor, columnist, political commentator, pundit, reporter and author. She is currently a contributing editor for Newsweek magazine. Her column, "Capitol Letter" is posted each week on Newsweek.com and MSNBC. She is a regular political panelist on the nationally syndicated show The McLaughlin Group, which she has compared to "a televised food fight". She is also a political contributor for the Fox News Channel.

Reviews

[Judy Blachek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have fought for women's rights all of my adult life. I knew the names of most of the women at the center of the fight for sufferage, but did not know the level of detail that this book provides. I found this very interesting and it certainly made me appreciate the women who suffered so that I could vote. That the women were arrested and imprisoned in such horrific conditions without being charged with breaking a law was totally unconscionable. A shameful chapter in our country's history.

It was also interesting to see the various factions and how they all provided a service to enabling the 19th amendment. Some more radical to get attention, the policy wonks to know how to work the system, and the organizers to ensure that events took place to further the cause and to raise the funds to do so.

Politics then are the same as now with the strategizing for their own political gain, arm twisting and deals to gain votes, and the ability to impede social progress.

[Juls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book I think every girl should read before she turns 18 to learn to appreciate her right to vote. She references many other books she used to write this one, but I found this a good comprehensive summary of all the events that led to women getting the vote. Very educational.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

not very well written, but very interesting info. full of cattiness and civil disobedience. meow!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with my students. It’s not a hard read and it stays focused on the work to give women the vote. What comes through clearly is the challenge of handling the diverse ways women thought their rights should be advocated. Their were always the radicals pushing the edges and the more conservative who wanted to reassure men and anti-suffrage folks that they were harmless and could be trusted. The various personalities are well described. There is an attempt to tell the story with the drama it deserves. It does end right after the ratification. It seems a bit abrupt. My students enjoyed it.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Think you know all there is to know about the passage of the 19th amendment? Think again.

These women, many of them society of them society women, were in it for the long haul because this took nearly 100 years to get women in America the vote. And for the most part, they struggled against other women who couldn't see the importance of having this important component in how we live our lives.

Every woman, and every man, should read this book and remember that if we do not learn the lessons of history, we are bound to repeat our mistakes. And it has profound lessons for today's protests.

Eleanor Cliff has a deft hand when it comes to bringing this story to life in the pages of this book. It is interesting without wandering into overly dramatic, fact-filled without being heavy and ultimately it is very good reading.

[Jan Olsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. All young girls should read this to appreciate what the suffragettes went through to give women the right to vote and the time and fight that it took to achieve. As Susan B Anthony said “”No self-respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her sex.” Think about it.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for a class but it was actually super interesting. Points for acknowledging that most of the leaders of the women's suffrage movement were racist af

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Women have suffered an agony of soul which you can never comprehend that your daughters might inherit political freedom. That vote has been costly. Prize it.” ~Carrie Chapman Catt

[Yara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although my sixth grade teacher was a feminist who taught about Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton I was too young to appreciate what they did. This book opened my eyes and I can't understand why this history is not more widely known! Reading this book inspired me to do more research and I realized that this story could have been told even better, which is why I only gave it four stars. It was a book that changed my view of my place in the world and deepened my appreciation for what I have and for those who made it possible.

[Tammra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not a quick, easy read but it was so informative and interesting. I learned so many things I did not know about suffrage and women's rights in voting. I will see my priviledge to vote in a whole new light from now on. I had no idea about the depth of the sacrifice and work that went into securing this right for me by some great and persistent women in American history.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun. This book brought to life people who are names in a history-book inset box or a face on a coin. I think everyone should read this book to be reminded that women were never "given" or "granted" the right to vote. They fought long and hard and won that right. We should be impressed with their hard work, remember them as fallible busy people, and laude their strategic prowess.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Currently on Chapter 1

Thus far, this is a really accessible, popular treatment of the woman suffrage movement in the U.S.--something I've been struggling to find! (I was looking for something that would cover the UK and Ireland as well, but that is yet to be.)

Currently on Chapter 2
Scratch that. The writing is atrocious. Not worth the read. I'm stopping here.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tennessee was the deciding factor. Something they do not talk about. Their shining moment hidden under all the civil war carp. They need to talk about the best decision they made. The 19th amendment is so important. Great book about a great subject. Worthy read. I am thankful to the women who bled and died for the cause. What they had to go through..........

[Jane Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read on the dynamics and personalities of the women involved in the 19th amendment. Not very well written; not very engaging; but some good information.

[Highjump · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually had to read this to work at the Sewall-Belmont house. This was an extremely readable account of the fight for suffrage. It was like history-light, like watching a good History Channel special. Quick and informative. The easiest digest of the complex 70 year struggle I've come across.

[Eloise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sorry to have been so ignorant about the history of the 19th Amendment and hope I will never again take the right to vote for granted. What gratitude we owe so many women who refused to give up!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Their were many more people/women involved in the process than I knew from previous readings. An easy read with new, to me, information.

[Etta Mcquade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fascinating, mainly because I knew litle about how the ratification of the 19th Amendment came about and the struggles that the suffragists went through to get it.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting history of the suffragist movement. Some of those women, especially in the decade before the ratification of the nineteenth amendment were absolute bad asses.

[Bronwyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. It's really an introduction to the fight for woman suffrage. I'd like something a bit more detailed and in depth, but this was a fine starting point.

[Jim Harrington]

Very informative book. Should be required reading for all young women today as most don't have a clue as to what was involved.

[Rachel A · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Educational, but not enthralling.