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US History (Monday, February 27, 7th period)
"Good afternoon!" The British man in a rather respectable suit stood at the front of the classroom. "I am John, Lord Marbury, Earl of Sherbourne, Marquess of Needham and Dolby, Baronet of Brycey and former British ambassador to these United States. It is my understanding that your esteemed teacher of US History and Government, one Joshua Lyman, has been recalled by the President for pressing matters. As such, I have been called upon to stand in his stead. I have no idea what made me agree to take the post, but I suppose it was possible that I was drunk. But have no fear! I assure you that I am overqualified for this position and that you are indeed in the safest of hands."
He took a deep breath through his nose, grabbed a piece of chalk and strode across to the board. Upon it, he wrote
'WOMEN'S RIGHTS'
"This, dear scholars of history, is the topic of discussion for today. Now, as this is a history class for American history, we will focus primarily on that. Contrary to popular belief, a belief imposed by hundreds of years of patriarchy, women have not always been heavily oppressed. However! In the case of the United States, they always have been at somewhat of a disadvantage. When this nation's constitution was formed, it was done so primarily for white men, especially rather rich white men who wanted to take up arms against His Majesty King George III, the British monarch at the time, whom they felt was treating them like a rather insignificant colony, which they were at the time.
But that is neither here nor there. What is important to note is that women, whether white, of native descent or of a different descent that was not of my fair homeland, were considered subordinate to all white men. Thus, they were not accounted for in political matters, including that of suffrage - that's voting - and were grossly misrepresented. In fact, for the first hundred years of possession of this continent by white settlers, women were the possession of their husband rather in the same manner as the husband owned a horse or a piece of land, only the wives were not taxable.
The United States Constitution was ambiguous in its language, which allowed for later interpretation for women to gain equal rights. In 1839, Mississippi was the first state to allow women the right of owning property in their own name, but not without permission from their husbands. However, while this was a far leap forward, the United States Congress took a gigantic step back in 1866 when they passed the 14th Amendment declaring that the whole number of persons in a state was only the whole number of male persons in that state. At that time, only men were eligible to vote in democratic elections.
This changed in 1869 when the then territory of Wyoming passed on the right of suffrage to women. And bravo to them, I say. They led the way again 1890, despite the rest of the country trying to oppress women's rights in matters of law and election, when they granted women the right to vote in *all* elections.
It wasn't until the 20th century that the other states started to wake up and smell the revolution, as it were. In 1900 married women in every state had some control over their own property and earnings. But it was in 1920 that the big win for women's rights came. The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution declared that women had the right to vote and would not be denied on account of their sex.
From there on, it was an uphill battle, but the hill had developed into a slightly more traversable slope. In 1938 women were considered equal for purposes of the minimum wage but it took until 1963 for the government to recognize that women should receive the same pay for the same work.
Women won many battles, too many to go into detail in such a short period of time, during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The battles continued into the 1990s where the courts continued to rule in favor of women in matters of sexual harassment, domestic violence, education, military service, sporting programs and employment. And still, the battle continues.
While some men have made much progress in the way of accepting women as their equals, some still struggle with the concept. However, history makes it quite clear that women are determined to gain rights of equality and that any man who stands in their way had better be up to quite a challenge.
You have been a magnificent audience, and I look forward to our next rendezvous. Homework! Homework is to study for your midterm which will be held this week in your class on Wednesday. Your dear, absent teacher wishes for you to cover topics ranging from Week 5 through to present, so I hope you were listening. The examination will be half multiple choice and half short answer, with one long answer question at the end. There is a handout detailing the topics to be covered. Come and collect one and then you can be on your way."
Study Topics for Midterm
Articles of Confederation
Constitution
Washignton & Adams
Jefferson, Lewis & Clark
War of 1812, Industrial Revolution & Implications on the South
Women's Rights
He took a deep breath through his nose, grabbed a piece of chalk and strode across to the board. Upon it, he wrote
'WOMEN'S RIGHTS'
"This, dear scholars of history, is the topic of discussion for today. Now, as this is a history class for American history, we will focus primarily on that. Contrary to popular belief, a belief imposed by hundreds of years of patriarchy, women have not always been heavily oppressed. However! In the case of the United States, they always have been at somewhat of a disadvantage. When this nation's constitution was formed, it was done so primarily for white men, especially rather rich white men who wanted to take up arms against His Majesty King George III, the British monarch at the time, whom they felt was treating them like a rather insignificant colony, which they were at the time.
But that is neither here nor there. What is important to note is that women, whether white, of native descent or of a different descent that was not of my fair homeland, were considered subordinate to all white men. Thus, they were not accounted for in political matters, including that of suffrage - that's voting - and were grossly misrepresented. In fact, for the first hundred years of possession of this continent by white settlers, women were the possession of their husband rather in the same manner as the husband owned a horse or a piece of land, only the wives were not taxable.
The United States Constitution was ambiguous in its language, which allowed for later interpretation for women to gain equal rights. In 1839, Mississippi was the first state to allow women the right of owning property in their own name, but not without permission from their husbands. However, while this was a far leap forward, the United States Congress took a gigantic step back in 1866 when they passed the 14th Amendment declaring that the whole number of persons in a state was only the whole number of male persons in that state. At that time, only men were eligible to vote in democratic elections.
This changed in 1869 when the then territory of Wyoming passed on the right of suffrage to women. And bravo to them, I say. They led the way again 1890, despite the rest of the country trying to oppress women's rights in matters of law and election, when they granted women the right to vote in *all* elections.
It wasn't until the 20th century that the other states started to wake up and smell the revolution, as it were. In 1900 married women in every state had some control over their own property and earnings. But it was in 1920 that the big win for women's rights came. The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution declared that women had the right to vote and would not be denied on account of their sex.
From there on, it was an uphill battle, but the hill had developed into a slightly more traversable slope. In 1938 women were considered equal for purposes of the minimum wage but it took until 1963 for the government to recognize that women should receive the same pay for the same work.
Women won many battles, too many to go into detail in such a short period of time, during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The battles continued into the 1990s where the courts continued to rule in favor of women in matters of sexual harassment, domestic violence, education, military service, sporting programs and employment. And still, the battle continues.
While some men have made much progress in the way of accepting women as their equals, some still struggle with the concept. However, history makes it quite clear that women are determined to gain rights of equality and that any man who stands in their way had better be up to quite a challenge.
You have been a magnificent audience, and I look forward to our next rendezvous. Homework! Homework is to study for your midterm which will be held this week in your class on Wednesday. Your dear, absent teacher wishes for you to cover topics ranging from Week 5 through to present, so I hope you were listening. The examination will be half multiple choice and half short answer, with one long answer question at the end. There is a handout detailing the topics to be covered. Come and collect one and then you can be on your way."
Study Topics for Midterm
Articles of Confederation
Constitution
Washignton & Adams
Jefferson, Lewis & Clark
War of 1812, Industrial Revolution & Implications on the South
Women's Rights
Sign In (History, February 27)
Re: Sign In (History, February 27)
Re: Sign In (History, February 27)
Re: Sign In (History, February 27)
Re: Sign In (History, February 27)
Re: Sign In (History, February 27)
Re: Sign In (History, February 27)
Re: Sign In (History, February 27)
Re: Sign In (History, February 27)
During the Lecture
Re: During the Lecture
Re: During the Lecture
Re: During the Lecture
Re: During the Lecture
Re: During the Lecture
[OOC:AIM?]
Re: During the Lecture
Re: During the Lecture
After Class
OOC
Re: OOC
Re: OOC
But keep going. I won't tell.
Re: OOC
Re: OOC
Re: OOC
Re: Sign In (History, February 27)
Re: OOC
Re: OOC
Re: OOC