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| Women's Rights in the American Century |
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Author: Kenneth J. Bechtel, Old Mill High School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Grade Level: High
Duration: 1-2 periods |
Overview:
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The rights of women in the United States have been a source of debate since the country's inception. As early as 1789 Abigail Adams urged her husband, John Adams, to "remember the ladies" at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. In 1848, a meeting in Seneca Falls, New York marked the official beginning of a recognized women's movement. Out of that meeting came the Declaration of Sentiments that ended with the phrase "all men and women are created equal." However, it would take another 72 years before women were even given the right to vote. Since then the role of women in society has changed dramatically. World War II allowed more women to work outside the home, but after the war, many returned to their traditional roles. The feminist movement of the 1970s brought about important advances, such as the passage of the Equal Pay Act and Education Amendments Acts, which included Title IX.
Are women equal with men? In this lesson, students will try to get at the heart of this historically complex question. By examining primary source documents that span the existence of the United States, they will see how "equality" for women has changed over time. In the end they will be asked to predict what the next great accomplishment for women will be.
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