Q: Which woman was arrested and charged in 1872 because she had the audacity to vote in a presidential election?
A: Susan B. Anthony — a civil rights and women’s suffrage activist — was arrested in 1872 for voting (Serena & Nancy were right!). On November 1st, she and her three sisters entered a Rochester, New York voter registration office and demanded they be registered. When election officials refused them, Anthony quoted the Fourteenth Amendment which states that “all persons born and naturalized in the United States… are citizens….” and entitled to citizens’ privileges including, Anthony reasoned, the right to vote, regardless of gender. When officials still refused her, Anthony threatened to sue them. She was registered and four days later cast her ballot — a straight Republican ticket.
On November 18th, as U.S. deputy marshal arrived at Anthony’s home to arrest her. She insisted that he put handcuffs on her before leading her out of the house. Anthony was among a group of women arrested for voting earlier that month, along with the ballot inspectors who authorized their votes.
She was convicted seven months later after a trial in which the judge refused to allow her to testify or submit statements. Conveniently, he also wrote his opinion of the trial before it even began, and he read that after her conviction, too. The sentence was a $100 fine, which she never paid and the government never collected. She used the publicity from the trial to spread her message.
Throughout Women’s History Month, The Women’s Foundation will be sharing facts, news and commentary about women and the important roles they’ve played in our communities — both yesterday and today. Visit the blog every morning and check back again in the afternoon for new info!