On Womens Right to Vote
Susan B. Anthony
Delivered after Anthony was arrested for voting in the 1872 presidential election. She toured upstate New York giving this speech repeatedly before her trial. She was fined 100 dollars which she refused to pay.
Speech Structure
Constitutional claim
The preamble says We, the people; not we, the white male citizens—inclusive original intent
Citizenship logic
Are women persons?—reduces denial of suffrage to absurdity
Oligarchy indictment
An oligarchy of sex... the most hateful aristocracy ever established—condemns male rule
Rhetorical Techniques
Constitutional textualism
"It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens who formed the Union"
Uses founders language against exclusionary interpretation
Reductio ad absurdum
"Are women persons? I hardly believe any of our opponents will have the hardihood to say they are not"
Forces opponents into impossible logical position
Key Quotes
"It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union."
"Are women persons? I hardly believe any of our opponents will have the hardihood to say they are not."
"An oligarchy of sex makes father, brothers, husband, sons, the oligarchs over the mother and sisters, the wife and daughters, of every household."
Delivery Analysis
Pace
Controlled intensity, relentless argument
Tone
Clear voice with precise legal language
Pauses
Strategic pauses after rhetorical questions
Gestures
Conservative dress, dignified bearing presenting herself as citizen claiming rights
Why It Works
Constitutional strategy
Claimed existing rights rather than demanding new ones
Legal precision
Argument structured like legal brief made it hard to dismiss as emotional
Personal risk
Facing criminal trial gave her words life-or-death stakes
Lessons for Your Speech
Claim existing rights dont beg for new ones
Frame your cause as enforcing whats already guaranteed
Reduce opposition to absurdity
Force opponents into positions they cant hold without looking foolish
Legacy & Impact
Established constitutional argument for womens suffrage. The 19th Amendment is called the Susan B. Anthony Amendment in her honor. Her face was placed on the dollar coin.
Quick facts
- Speaker
- Susan B. Anthony
- Year
- 1873
- Category
- social justice
- Words
- 4,000
- Duration
- 35 min
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