Well, yes, Carl, even in the South, economics was key to the positions taken. That's true with the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s-60s too.
Which party gave women the right to vote? Do you mean the first state to do so (Wyoming), or national suffrage? The latter took place with Wilson (D) as Prez, but the amendment was introduced in the Senate for the first time in 1878 by Senator Aaron Sargent(R-CA) where it was defeated It was reintroduced at every successive Congress till it was passed (sometime around 1918-19) and ratified in 1920.
The year before it passed Congress, it passed the House but was shot down in the Senate despite a Wilson speech to the Senate in favor.
When it was passed, the Prez was a Dem, the Senate majority was barely Republican, by 48-47-1, and the House Majority was Republican. The leading opponent was a NY Republican (forgot the name) whose wife led a major anti-suffrage organization.
Since most of the non-ratifying states were Southern, and likely Dems, I guess it could be argued that the GOP was more supportive. But I don't view this one as an achievement of either major party. Principal credit goes to the Women's Party that dragged the men, kicking and screaming, to the successful vote. |
