Monday, April 20

9:00am Perfect 36: When Women Won the Vote, 9th thru 12th + grades

For those who think their vote doesn’t matter…

PERFECT 36: WHEN WOMEN WON THE VOTE chronicles the dramatic vote to ratify this amendment, and the years of debate about women's suffrage that preceded it. On July 17, 1920, Carrie Chapman Catt, President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, arrived to spend a few days in Nashville. She was traveling on the heels of Tennessee Governor A.H. Roberts' announcement of a special session of the state legislature, called at the urging of President Woodrow Wilson. One more state needed to ratify the proposed amendment, and that duty rested solely on the shoulders of Tennessee. Catt's few days dragged into weeks at her headquarters in the Hermitage Hotel, where pro- and anti- suffragists continued to clash in what came to be known as the "War of the Roses." Those in favor sported yellow roses, while those against wore red. On the sweltering day of August 18, 1920, the House convened. After two consecutive 48-48 outcomes to table the resolution, it was put to a vote. The votes were coming in neck and neck. At the last minute, 24 year-old freshman Representative Harry Burn recalled a letter from his mother received that morning, urging him to, "be a good boy" and grant women the right to vote. In spite of wearing a red rose, Burn swung his vote, making Tennessee the deciding 36th state to enable passage of the 19th Amendment, and thereby granting women the Constitutional right to vote.

After watching this episode, choose from the following questions

and/or tasks to extend your learning

Question Box 1

 What were the arguments presented by the Suffragists?  What were the arguments presented by the Anti-suffragists?  What was the first state to ratify the 19th amendment?  What state was the last?  Describe the process it took to ratify the amendment.  What role did Harry Burns play in the women’s right to vote?  What role did the number 36 play in the video?

Continued on the next page…

 Describe the events at the Hermitage Hotel that was later known as the “War of the Roses”.

Question Box 2

 When Harry Burn changed his mind; he changed his vote; his vote changed the United States of America. When was there a time in your life that something you did or something someone you know did or didn’t do changed the outcome of something?  Which parts of this TV program were challenging for you?  What new information have you learned from this TV program? Explain?  What surprised you about what I learned?  Do you consider yourself to be brave? What does bravery mean to you?  Do you have any unanswered questions? What are they? Try to find the answers.

Question Box 3 (Tasks)

 Create a timeline in this country that chronicles the years in which different groups win the right to vote?  Write a poem or song about earning the right to vote.  Explore visual art that depicted the Suffragists’ movement. Produce your own visual representing the movement.

Question Box 4 (Enrichment)

 Use the timeline that you created and work with the census maps to determine what percentage of the population that could vote before and after every major group gains the right to vote. (ELD) Present the timeline and findings orally to your family using details and evidence to support ideas. Question Box 5 (Extend/Real-Life)

 What groups in the country currently cannot vote?  What are the arguments for and against granting them voting? Would you grant them the right to vote? Examine the arguments for and against granting women voting rights. Are the arguments significantly different? How so?  Social-Emotional Connection: Think about a time you were frustrated because you felt like you were being treated unfairly. Describe the feelings you were feeling and why you think you felt that way. What are positive self-talk statements can you make when you feel frustrated? Write these down in a journal and reflect on the statements when you feel frustrated.  Working women saw the vote as a way to gain more political power to further their workplace causes (equal pay, better working conditions, etc.). Unfortunately, women still face these issues today. In 2018, female full-time, year-round workers made only 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gender wage gap of 18 percent.

Continued on the next page…

o On a sheet of paper, list those jobs you consider traditionally male, traditionally female, and ones that are considered appropriate for both. If available, ask others to do the same. Compare your lists and discuss the answers to the questions below. o Are there any jobs that truly are gender specific? o Do some occupations have physical/mental/emotional requirements that people assume only related to one gender? o Do some jobs appeal more to women than men? Why? o Why are some jobs so heavily populated with males or females? o Which of the careers on your list(s) are the most highly paid? Circle the top 3. Who typically holds those jobs?  Why would someone want to work in a career not traditionally held by their gender?  Should gender be an important factor in choosing a career?  Who/what influences a person to consider careers based on their gender?