Students view media about women’s suffrage marches to help analyze the lasting impact of women’s suffrage in the United States. Then, they examine the events, issues, and personalities of this movement. They work together in groups to create an infographic of the women’s suffrage movement and the impact of the 19th amendment. Finally, they view and interpret a popular women’s suffrage map from the Progressive Era.
Students read an introduction to the women’s suffrage movement and consider how rights once denied to many citizens became more widely available over time. They examine an image of a 1913 suffrage parade participant and respond to a word cloud prompt by posting a synonym for the word “suffrage.” Students then scroll through the photo gallery The Long Road to Women’s Suffrage and watch Women’s Suffrage March Reenactment, after which they post to a collaborative wall explaining why people in 2013 might have chosen to reenact the 1913 parade.
Teacher MovesIntroduce the experience and objective, highlighting that students will explore how women won the right to vote and who led the struggle. Use the word cloud responses to gauge students’ understanding of the term “suffrage” and clarify as needed. After students view the photos and video, facilitate a discussion about motivations for reenacting the parade, prompting ideas such as celebrating a historic achievement, keeping its memory alive, re-energizing support for women’s rights today, and protesting ongoing gender bias in politics.
Students examine a map of women’s suffrage in 1920 and read Women’s Suffrage at Last to learn how states gradually extended voting rights to women. Using a graphic organizer, they identify and record two key events or actions between the Seneca Falls Convention and ratification of the 19th amendment that advanced women’s suffrage. They answer a multiple-choice question about the year the 19th amendment was ratified. Students then read background text about divisions within the suffrage movement after the Civil War and respond to a poll selecting which anti-suffrage argument shows the most bias. Finally, they post on a collaborative wall describing actions women and organizations took to overcome bias and advance suffrage.
Teacher MovesSupport students in interpreting the 1920 suffrage map and connecting it to the reading. Guide them in identifying significant milestones and strategies for their graphic organizer. Clarify the meaning of “bias” before or after the poll, emphasizing that it involves unfairly favoring or opposing a group or idea. Use poll results to launch a discussion about common arguments against women’s suffrage. When students respond on the wall about actions taken to overcome bias, reference examples such as lobbying state governments, nonviolent protests like mock elections and attempts to vote, and women’s service during World War I. Suggest that interested or advanced students consult additional resources such as The Fight for Women’s Suffrage and The Women’s Rights Movement, 1848–1920 to deepen their understanding. Organize students into small groups in preparation for the next scene.
Students view an image of a sculpture of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott, then read Biographies of Influential Suffragists to learn about key leaders in the movement. Working in small groups, they plan and create an infographic that explains the history of women’s suffrage in the United States. Their infographic includes major events, visuals with captions representing important people, organizations, or moments, and at least one interesting or unusual fact about women’s suffrage. Using a shared drawing canvas, groups design or upload their infographic. Afterward, they discuss within their groups the impact of the 19th amendment and post a group response to a wall.
Teacher MovesEncourage students to draw on multiple biographies and, if helpful, direct them to additional brief profiles in 75 Suffragists, highlighting figures such as Frances Willard, Lucy Stone, Sojourner Truth, Alice Paul, Julia Ward Howe, and Carrie Chapman Catt. Clarify what makes an effective infographic and, if needed, point students to examples and guidance from Infographicszone. Circulate as groups work, prompting them to include clear timelines, representative images, and accurate captions. During the discussion about the impact of the 19th amendment, guide students toward ideas such as universal adult suffrage over age 21, expanded political and civic participation for women, and the amendment’s significance as a Progressive Era civil rights victory and step toward gender equality. Prepare students to complete the remaining scenes individually.
Students examine the 1915 suffrage map “The Awakening” and read The 1915 Map that Helped All Women Get the Vote to understand how suffrage maps functioned as persuasive tools. They post to a class wall explaining how this suffrage map also operates as a political cartoon, considering its imagery, symbolism, and message. Next, they respond on a group wall evaluating whether the map is effective and explaining their reasoning. Finally, they review classmates’ posts and reply to at least two with a question or positive comment to extend the discussion.
Teacher MovesGuide students in analyzing the map’s visual elements, pointing out symbols such as Lady Liberty advancing suffrage from western to eastern states, the depiction of women reaching toward the right to vote, and the poem that serves as a caption. Emphasize that the map is designed to persuade as well as inform. When students evaluate the map’s effectiveness, acknowledge a range of valid interpretations—for example, that it may be inspiring and relatable, or that its sentimental tone and lack of explicit arguments might limit its persuasiveness. Use their posts and replies to foster respectful discussion about how visual media can shape public opinion.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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