Today is Women's Equality Day and the 90th anniversary of the effective date of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed equal political rights for women. It may seem unbelievable to many Americans today, but for most of this country's history, women were denied the franchise in states across the country (some states allowed women to vote before ratification of the 19th Amendment, others did not).
Indeed, the story is even more complicated and disturbing than that: as part of the otherwise inspiring and momentous adoption of the 14th Amendment in 1868, which enshrined birthright citizenship and equal civil rights and due process for all Americans, the Constitution actually allowed the denial of political rights to women, imposing a sanction only on the denial of the vote to "male inhabitants" of a state. This was the first use of a gender specific term in the Constitution, and some women's rights advocates opposed ratification of the 14th Amendment on this basis.
The adoption of the 19th Amendment in 1920 reflects the arc of our constitutional progress. Americans rightly celebrate the Constitution's 1787 Framers for creating the best and most durable form of government in world history. But we should all also be keenly aware of the important blind-spots in the amazing vision of the white men gathered in Philadelphia in 1787. It took the heroic labors of successive generations of Americans to eliminate slavery, give women the vote, and create the increasingly "more perfect union" we live in today. In a brilliant speech supporting the confirmation of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy called our constitutional history a "journey" that:
began with improvements upon the foundation of our Constitution through the Bill of Rights, and then continued with the Civil War amendments, the 19th Amendment's expansion of the right to vote to women, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the 26th Amendment's extension of the vote to young people. These actions have marked progress along the path of inclusion, and have recognized the great diversity that is the strength of our great Nation.
This story of constitutional redemption should inspire all Americans, but progressives particularly because progressive social movements have been the motivating force behind just about every successful effort to make our Constitution better. At the same time, progressives should be focused hard and energized in response to the strange brew of constitutional ideas emerging from the Tea Party, which seeks to return to the America of the 1787 Framers and, as Jim Linn, a Tea Party member from San Diego explained to the Washington Post, this "would mean scrapping a lot of the Amendments."
Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle, and others, have called for repeal of the 16th Amendment, which reinstated the progressive income tax. Utah Senate candidate Mike Lee, and others, have called for repeal of the 17th Amendment, which provided for direct election of Senators. And established politicians on the right including Senator Lindsey Graham are now calling for repeal of the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment -- which guarantees that everyone born in this country is automatically a citizen -- an effort that, if successful, would be the first time in history we have amended the Constitution to make it less egalitarian.
In short, today as we celebrate the 19th Amendment, the progressive story of our constitutional history -- the story of our still unfinished constitutional journey towards a more perfect union -- is under assault.
This weekend - the weekend 47 years ago when Martin Luther King inspired the nation and the world with his "I have a dream speech" - Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin will be rallying at the Lincoln Memorial, the site of Dr. King's speech, for an event designed to "restore honor" and return us to our "nation's founding principles." It is ironic that Beck, Palin, and their Tea Party friends chose the Lincoln Memorial to stage their rally, given that they tend to ignore the constitutional progress urged by Lincoln, secured through a bloody civil war, and written into the Constitution in the post-war amendments -- except, of course, when they are calling to repeal part of these amendments.
As the shouts of Beck and Palin dominate the news this weekend, progressives should ensure that the words etched on the Lincoln Memorial are not forgotten in the midst of Tea Party rhetoric. As Lincoln made clear in his Gettysburg Address, the United States was "conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that 'all men are created equal,'" but it was only after the Civil War and several constitutional amendments that our country experienced "a new birth of freedom" and the promises of our Nation's Founding were kept.
Progressives have a great answer to the calls from the Tea Party to a return to our founding principles: the Constitution we have today is better because of a series of Amendments that have made the nation more free, more equal and capable to meet the challenges of the 21st Century world. Today's anniversary of the 19th Amendment -- and the very sight of the Lincoln Memorial at Saturday's rally -- should be timely reminders of that constitutional progress. We need to get that story out.
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You want to know the first states where women were allowed to vote?
"Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and Idaho
The first territorial legislature of the Wyoming Territory granted women suffrage in 1869.[34] In the following year, the Utah Territory followed suit. However, in 1887, the United States Congress disenfranchised Utah women with the Edmunds–Tucker Act. In 1890, Wyoming was admitted to the Union as the first state that allowed women to vote. In 1893, voters of Colorado made that state the second of the woman suffrage states and the first state where the men voted to give women the right to vote.[35] In 1895, Utah adopted a constitution restoring the right of woman suffrage. In 1896 Idaho approved a constitutional amendment in statewide vote giving women the right to vote."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_suffrage_in_the_United_States
check out the map
Obama is a CIA Operative
Read why the U.S. Government is an enemy of the people and Tea Party. (website not included here)
this is the kind of internet perpetuated nonsense that has cause all the misinformation like the president's place of birth or religion.
find out who funds these things and there you will find the real enemy of the state not the false ones constantly perpetuated by the tea party, limbaugh , beck etc,,, They KNOW the president was born in the US but they don't come out and say it...they use double speak innuendo like "well there are some folks who have questions" etc... I would like to see the website that says people like Beck is the enemy of the people. because that would be true, not innuendo by his constant perpetuating of half-truths and outright false statements.
that they cost the government way more for the average services the military used to do on their own,,Look at Dubai and Abu Daubi they have become some of the most luxurious cities in the world as most of the suppliers are based out of there and have enriched those places many times over...our country is left to fall apart with our crumbling infrastructure because we choose to nation build just not in this country....I have friends in the military who told me that they say large trunks full of cash...millions going through base camps..for the purpose of paying of the locals in the area so we could get in to do what we wanted.....im sure all of that cash went exactly where it was supposed to go,,,it probably went to rearm the insurgency with our own money.,,
I just read the people that run the anti gay marriage campaigns are trying to remove the judges that voted in favor of it.....we are in trouble
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." -Thomas Jefferson
"I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive." -Thomas Jefferson
This is why the internet can be so dangerous.
"they tend to ignore the constitutional progress urged by Lincoln, secured through a bloody civil war, and written into the Constitution in the post-war amendments"
This is completely false. The only issue mentioned that is even related to the post-war amendments is birthright citizenship, which has nothing to do with the ideals of Lincoln or abolishing slavery. The tea parties hold the Constitution in highest regard, especially those Amendments that completed the goal of freedom and voting rights for all citizens.
People these days are seldom expected to be ashamed, but you, sir, deserve the honor.
I would like you then to defend the right to marry for ALL citizens as you mentioned as is guarantied by the 14th amendment very clearly. I am amazed when people assert with such certainty that something is false when in fact it is completely true. but then again 20% of americans believe our president is not an american. So am i surprised? unfortunately no...
"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
That is EXACTLY what a small majority did in CA taking right AWAY from people they had finally been given. EQUAL protection is pretty clear. Please don't use the false argument that marriage is not a right in the constitution...it has long been settled that it has even though its not mentioned by exact word. Its not a religious issue as so many make it. Its civil protections afforded to everyone to protect their families and loved ones
The gay marriage issue has nothing to do with this article or this topic. However, we also did not fight the civil war to secure gay marriage.
If you have a specific disagreement with Rand Paul's notional discussions about the extent of enforcement of the Civil Rights Act, you should write an article about that. This does relate to or excuse your inaccurate implications in this article.
The progressive income tax is a good thing?? The progressive income tax is robbing middle class people like me to pay for illegal wars and a bloated and corrupt Federal government.
Constitutional progress would be moving us toward a more Jeffersonian limited form of government. Thomas Jefferson used to be the American ideal of a liberal.
Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
Ask yourselves who profits from not ratifying this amendment? And ask yourselves why we didn't ask these candidates during their elections where they stood on it?
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I wish I could be as generous as all the other contributors. However, although many women have benefited from legislation & the push to equality for woman in society as well as in the workplace, there is still a lot of work to do.
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White women, when compared to 'white men' experience a smaller gap than is presented.
White women, when compared to 'all men' experience a much smaller gap than is presented.
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Women of color, though their status is improved...fall far behind the benefits experienced by white women.
Women of color, when compared to 'white women' still experience that pay gap...and more.
Women of color, when compared to 'white men' experience a significantly greater gap...
Women of color, when compared to all whites (men and women alike) have much to struggle for...and it is imperative that we work reduce these phantom figures that have not produced the same level of financial liberation for women of color.
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http://www.equalrightsamendment.org/overview.htm
Ask yourselves why anyone should be afraid of this amendment? And ask them to explain exactly why? Is it the gay issue? Is it abortion? Let's get it out on the table once and for all.
I am intrigued by the fact that the author is basically conceding that the Tea Party is based on the country's founding principles, whereas those opposed think that he founding principles need alteration.
I am not saying this is damning, necessarily, but it isn't an argument I would make.
I know, though, that that is an aside. Whether one likes the founders or not, it is pretty clear that the principles laid out in the declaration of independence, (to which Lincoln attributed all his political thoughts, including his anti-slavery position) are anti slavery. Yes, the constitution allowed for the practice of slavery, but that practice is contrary to the founder's principles of freedom and equality. Certainly the Tea Party, for good or ill, is not trying to return to all the practices of the founding regime. If that is what they want, they are insane. But to aim for the principles, that seems more noble and less controversial.
Many of the founders freed their slaves. This is what is so sad about modern "progressive" thought. You're not even taught about the American revolution and what incredible freedom and prosperity it brought to the US and the world.
I guess you can blame the public education system.
First there is no THE tea party.
Secondly, if there were, and anyone suggested eliminating the 19th Amendment, there would instantly be no more THE tea party as a majority of the tea party movement is women and women not liely to take a back seat to anybody or they wouldn't be involved in the first place.
Somebody is very misinformed.
" a tea party member " does not equate to THE tea party.
As usual, innuendo and half truths are baked into a big fat lie
Even if half the things that this article says are true (which none are) if you believe that the Constitution is a living document, you can't have it both ways ... people can suggest any changes to the Constitution they want ... doesn't mean it's going to happen (ERA anyone?)
The Limbaugh and Beck center for bigotry and intolerance and misinformation" Can 1 TPr tell me who is funding your "GRASS ROOTS" movement? you don't even know its 2 billionaire brothers from Texas who used to fund John Birch Society. (ever heard of it?) They also own large business that cause severe pollution and this deregulation buzz is so they can pollute as much as they want. DEREGULATION under Bush got us in the mess we are in .and you are exactly right....the TPr's latch on to simple buzz words like and notice the 2 word trend because its all they can grasp...: DEATH PANELS, JUDICIAL ACTIVISM, LIBERAL MEDIA. Looking up Liberal in the dictionary would do them some good...if conserves are the opposite of liberal I want no part of it,... and the fact that over 20% of americans are so ignorant they cannot accept proven fact that our president is US born. or a christian (that does not matter to me at all) maybe you can try to "Refudiate" this just ask Sarah. also please tell her it's not a word. I want to make tshirt with Palins face with a Hitler mustache that says "REFUDIATE THIS"
Perhaps you could cite how any of his votes that have been unamerican. Perhaps we should ignore that his constiguents elected him. As far as I know being a socialist isn't illegal. Inciting hatred and fear is.
Regarding hatred and fear...yet another lib area of expertise. If the libs aren't blaming Bush for something, they trot out the rich, Wall Street, Christians, American CEOs, American Corporations, the vast right wing conspiracy bunch, Bush again, the rich again, Tea Party types, Palin, Bech, Limbaugh, Hannity...well, the list just goes on and on.