Process Paper
My entry is about the Women’s Suffrage Movement. On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment (giving women the right to vote) was ratified, which was a turning point for the women's rights movement. This led women to get better jobs, have a voice in politics, and influence more laws to be passed in their favor. Over time, society saw women as stronger, more powerful individuals and more equal to men. In 7th grade, I started my project as part of a school wide History Day fair. The idea for my topic came from important lessons that were instilled in me when I was younger. My mother always taught me to be strong and motivated, and to never let anything get in the way of my success. This sense of drive and passion that I was taught and strived to achieve, I saw the same (and much more) in the women of this movement. It amazed me how much of themselves they gave for this cause, that they were so determined to change the way the world saw women, even amongst all the negativity. I was eager to learn more.
The local libraries and the internet were my main places to find sources. A book I borrowed from the Aiea Public Library was a key secondary source in my project because it gave me a great overview of the movement, and provided a platform for further research. My view on women’s suffrage changed as I started to see how difficult it was to get the vote. I am very appreciative that voting is an inalienable right of all women in America today.
The Women’s Suffrage Movement was a very long one, and dates back as early as the American Revolution. To narrow down the key aspects of the movement, I read books to get a brief understanding of what happened, then did further research on the main causes and effects. I created my entry for our school fair, revised it when I was invited to the district and state competition, then took feedback I got from the judges to revise my project for Nationals. My biggest problem using less of my words to deliver information. I tend to write quite descriptively, but because a website is very visual, I had to be more concise. I instead used more pictures and quotes to tell the story and chose my words wisely.
Women’s suffrage relates to this year’s History Day theme because it truly was a turning point in the lives of American women. This wasn't just a matter voting, it was about finally being given a voice. Women were able to have opinions on how their country would be run. This movement also was able to change how women were perceived. They slowly went from cooks, caretakers, and cleaners to valuable members of society who were capable of so much more. Thanks to this movement, women are able to be leaders and change the world.