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Explore the transformation of government legitimacy and the emergence of mass political movements, such as the abolitionist movement and women's suffrage, during the period of 1750-1900. Discover the ethical, social, and political factors that fueled these movements and understand their significance in reshaping society.
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The Abolitionist Movement & Women’s Suffrage The Age of Mass Politics
What Does Mass Politics Mean? • The Age of Mass Politics refers to the period between 1750-1900 when the source of legitimacy in government began to shift AWAY from divine sources, gifts, coercion, etc. TOWARD participation by common citizens of the state. • The Enlightenment, a rising middle class who lacked political power, & increased literacy rates fueled this change
Two Big Examples • In addition to new political revolutions (The Atlantic Revolutions) that brought about the world’s first Constitutional Monarchies, ‘Murican Limited Democracy, & the idea of independent nation-states rather than colonies, Mass Political movements emerged, centered around new issues that people were very enthusiastic about: • Abolishing Slavery • Women’s right to vote (the right to vote is called “Suffrage”)
Abolitionist Movement • desire to end legal slavery • Centered in Britain and the northern USA • Ethics: Many people realized the immorality of owning another human • Increased Literacy: New media like newspapers drummed up public support • Haiti’s slaves freed themselves between 1791-1803 • Britain abolished slavery in all of its lands in 1834 • USA in 1865 (14th & 15th Amendments) • Brazil held on until 1888
Importance • It became normal for regular people to be interested and involved in politics • It became normal for the will of the majority of regular citizens to change the policies or direction of their government
Women’s Suffrage • Many women in the West (Europe and their colonies with lots of European settlers like Australia, USA, Latin America, etc.) were well literate/educated • They wanted to be involved in the abolitionist movement, but male abolitionists rejected their involvement • They decided they needed to focus on getting the right to vote • Emmeline Pankhurst in England = leader
USA & Women’s Suffrage: Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton • Seneca Falls Convention (New York) of 1848 = first women’s rights convention led by Susan B. Anthony • SBA- fined for illegally voting in the 1872 presidential election. • ECS- Author of the Declaration of Sentiments- ignited the first organized woman's rights and woman's suffrage movements in the United States • Concerns of women’s rights advocates included custody rights (children were legally the property of only fathers), property rights (women’s wages were legally the property of their husbands or fathers), divorce laws, and birth control. • Women’s efforts to win voting rights didn’t succeed until post-WWI (around 1920).
Importance • The Women’s Suffrage movement encompassed MANY aspects of political and economic life, not just voting • In a modern industrialized nation-state, garnering the economic and political support of 100% of the citizens is critical to the nation’s strength (aka: you’re a richer and more militarily powerful state if you can pull labor & support from all your citizens)
