Jeannette Rankin and Her Impact, By Grace Jensen, Senior Division, Paper

Jeannette Rankin and Her Impact, By Grace Jensen, Senior Division, Paper

Jeannette Rankin lived from the late 1800 s to the late 1900 s. When Rankin first started her impact it was in the early 1900 s, this was so significant, because women did not have the right to vote, did not have their voice necessarily, and were not equal to the men in America. This inequality is apparent to see when looking over the diminished rights women had or the entire lack of rights. For example when the Women s Rights Conventions would take place issues about not having many legal or civil rights would come up in conversation such as voting rights, marriage rights, the need for more educational opportunities for women, women serving in Congress, and many more issues on inequality ( Women s Rights Conventions, ABC-CLIO, 2016). In this time era it was difficult for women to speak out about what they felt was right and thought needed change. However, Jeannette Rankin did not fear having that voice for her and the American people. Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to Congress in 1916. When Rankin was elected she impacted women everywhere by taking the first stand in saying that women were qualified and eligible to be a part of Congress. Not only was Rankin a politician she was an activist too, she had an impact on other Americans by her voicing the opinion on the war, peace, working conditions, women's suffrage, equal rights, and women s birth control. Rankin gave women and many other Americans the voice they never had by being elected and becoming a public figure. Jeannette Rankin presented her voice on many different topics, one of them being the women s suffrage movement. Before her election to Congress Jeannette Rankin had become very passionate for women s suffrage. According to an article about Jeannette Rankin from American History, Rankin became very intrigued in politics especially women's suffrage, Any study Rankin planned on accomplishing there was soon waylaid by a new political interest: the women's suffrage movement. Rankin became a full-time activist for her gender's right to vote, 1

and she returned to her home state of Montana, where she impressed the legislature with a powerful speech in favor of woman suffrage...took part in the 1913 Women's Suffrage March in Washington, D.C." ( Jeannette Rankin, ABC-CLIO, 2016). The actions of participation in the march and presenting a speech to the legislature about the suffrage movement could influence the population enough to gain the vote towards suffrage. By Jeannette Rankin getting involved with the movement and attaining the attention she is creating an impact for women over the country because suffrage would soon be achieved through the 19th Amendment. The creation of the amendment was due to the people of the suffrage movement. The 19th Amendment did not come easy to the women of the country, it took years and long work. Before Rankin participated in the march in Washington D.C. she acquired a job from the New York Woman Suffrage Party (NYWSP) which worked closely with National American Women's Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and they sent Jeannette Rankin west to crusade for the right of women to vote in other states ( Jeannette Rankin Gale, 1998). When Rankin traveled to other states to crusade it gave women a voice because the word was being spread that women should have the right to vote. More than opinion stating was happening a movement was being created, and this voice brought through the movement and Jeannette Rankin it was able to change the country and provide women with the voice they deserve through the 19th Amendment. Women were not receiving proper rights in the birth control and the maternity region. It is apparent to see what Jeannette Rankin s actions were when she proposed a bill that would support mothers in numerous ways, in an article titled Jeannette Rankin it tells about a bill that Rankin initiated for mothers, She introduced the Rankin-Robertson bill (later renamed the Sheppard-Towner Act...which called for government-sponsored instruction in maternity, child care, and birth control (Gale, 1998). Rankin wanted to give American women what they needed 2

when it came to maternity related topics. Rankin was contributing to these women's voice, because she brought up to the government what these women needed and was able to represent and provide for them. It is also visible to see her impact for mothers when Rankin contrived with the National Consumers' League. When she worked with the group Rankin would importune for mothers in different ways such as getting Acts approved, She worked for (NCL), lobbying for the the Maternity and Infancy Care Act,... providing health care for mothers and children (Gretchen Woelfle, Jeannette Rankin: Political Pioneer, Calkins Creek, 2007). Rankin is speaking out for these women and giving them a voice by lobbying for health care for them. Apart from being an activist Jeannette Rankin broke the barrier and took a stand against the normality in 1916 when she was elected to the House of Representatives for Montana. Rankin ran for the Republican party and was dedicated to pacifism (ABC-CLIO, 2016). Jeannette Rankin being elected into the House had an impact on a multitude of women. Rankin put out this statement during the time she first got elected which told her opinions on being a woman in Congress, "I may be the first woman member of Congress, she observed upon her election in 1916. But I won t be the last ( Rankin, Jeannette, Office of Art & Archives, 2016). Jeannette Rankin believed that the country will soon have more women Congress members and she is not the last. Also, in the book The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History, it provides a quote which states about Rankin being a model for women who wanted to be in Congress, Rankin proved to be the archetype for women who followed (Wilma Mankiller, The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History Houghton Mifflin, 1998). Jeannette Rankin was a strong model for women to follow in Congress. Another thing to add is that through her election men and humans all over the country would become more comfortable to the idea of women taking power in Congress, an example of this comfort is in a poem from the New York 3

Time Sunday Magazine that is about Jeannette Rankin s success in the election and tells about a new Congresslady which the public will great with kindness, We have so many Congressmen Whose ways are dark and shady--how joyfully we welcome then The coming Congresslady! (Christopher Morley, The Congresslady, New York Times Sunday Magazine, 1916). People were becoming more comfortable about women being a part of the government already and Jeannette Rankin would continue to create this change in the mindset of humans all over the country. In addition to Jeannette Rankin providing a voice for women on suffrage she also took a stand in a way where she brought attention to how women should be represented and have a voice in Congress. A quote from Rankin shows that women need to be able to express their opinions in the world and government, "We did not labor in suffrage just to bring the vote to women, but to allow women to express their opinions and become effective in government" (Gretchen Woelfle, 2007). By Jeannette Rankin speaking out about how women should be able to express their opinions she is providing a voice for herself, and soon to be other women who dream of being in Congress. And by Rankin speaking out women are able to do just that. In an article it supplied information about Jeannette Rankin s impact in Congress and how the number of women in Congress was affected, "Women weren t yet flooding through the doors Rankin had opened, but they were beginning to step confidently through" ( Legacy.com Staff, Jeannette Rankin, First U.S. Congresswoman, Legacy.com, 2010). By Jeannette Rankin showing the way she had an impact on women when in came to breaking the barrier when joining Congress. It is also possible to see her impact in this piece of evidence from Jeannette Rankin, it reveals that Rankin was not alone in Congress, "the second time in January of 1941. This time she was no longer the only woman in Congress; five other women were seated in the House, and two were members of the Senate" (Gale, 1998). By Rankin providing her opinion stating that women are 4

just as qualified to be in Congress as men it created new lives for women who wanted to be involved in Congress. Jeannette Rankin getting elected provided a voice for women across the country by showing and expressing herself that women are capable and eligible to have a voice and participate in Congress. Jeannette Rankin was a pacifist and when she was apart of the House of Representatives -in 1916 and 1940- the U.S. was facing entering WWI and WWII. Jeanette Rankin was against the wars and for peace; she wanted to give a voice to Americans who were also for peace. One of the first major ways she took the stand against war and gave a voice to other Americans who opposed war was giving her vote of no to both wars. In an article which tells about Jeannette Rankin and her pacifism it is perceptible to see her standing up for this belief when she said no, Rankin stood at the vanguard of the various anti-war movements of the 20th century. She voted against the American entry into World War I and made history as the only representative to oppose American involvement in World War II, casting a "no" vote in the declaration of war. Throughout her long life, she rallied for the cause of peace, which brought her scorn, as well as praise, from many of her fellow Americans" (ABC-CLIO, 2016). The best place to start is to look over the fact that Jeannette Rankin said no to what she believed in when no one else did. Rankin took a stand when it came to what she believed what was right in her beliefs and for the American people. Jeannette Rankin gave the voice to Americans and pacifists when no one else wanted to. Rankin had such a strong axiom towards the ending of war that she fought with the Women s Peace Union for an amendment to abolish war (Gale, 1998). Jeannette Rankin was very committed to bringing out the voice of Americans who opposed the war. Without the actions of Jeannette Rankin taking a stand on the issue of war and stating her voice about it Americans would not have been able to create such a strong voice in the country. Jeannette Rankin contributed to this voice by speaking out in Congress 5

about the war, and joining groups (such as the Women s Peace Union); without Jeannette Rankin the American voice for peace would have been quieted. Jeannette Rankin believed that Women's rights and issues were closely tied together with the peace issues and movements. In an article about Jeannette Rankin there is a statement where it tells why she decided to vote no on the war, the reasoning for the vote is her gender, "As a woman I can't go to war," Rankin declared, "and I refuse to send anyone else" (Gale, 1998). Jeannette Rankin believed that since women don t have the right to go to war then she is not going to send anyone else. Rankin is supplying this voice for women who can t go to war by not voting for the rest of the population of people in the country (men) to not head off into war. It is also available to see women issues and the peace issues being brought together when in 1919 Jeannette Rankin and Jane Addams went to Zurich, Switzerland to take part in the Second International Congress of Women. When there Jeannette Rankin co-organized the Women s International League for Peace and Freedom (Jeannette Rankin Put Profession s Ethics Into Politics, Professional Social Work Centennial, 1998). By Jeannette Rankin working with Women s International League for Peace and Freedom it is distinctive that Jeannette Rankin was bringing peace and women together. By doing the action of participating with the Women s International League for Peace and Freedom a voice is being represented for women and peace activists. These actions also show one of the many ways Jeannette was taking a stand on peace and war. Another indication of the belief that women and peace are related and should be given a voice is a quote from Jeannette Rankin that tells why women should bring peace to the world, The work of educating the world for peace is a woman's job, because men are afraid of being classed as cowards (Gretchen Woelfle, 2007). Jeannette Rankin and other women were suppose to bring peace to the country and spread information about peace. By Jeannette Rankin speaking out about peace, voting no against the war, and involving women 6

into the job of providing peace, Rankin created a strong voice and capability for Americans to share their voice. Jeannette Rankin and many others took a stand against war and contributed to peace. On top of women s rights and war and peace Jeannette Rankin also worked on working conditions throughout the country. Rankin was able to give a voice to workers who were being treated unfairly. One example we can see of Jeannette Rankin contributing to the help of reinstating proper working conditions is in the case of the workers of The Bureau of Printing and Engraving. Jeannette Rankin speaks up and takes action for the workers who are being treated unfairly, Federal law said that women printers could work only eight hours a day. But bureau forced them to work as much as fifteen hours a day and canceled their vacation time. A group of workers came to Jeannette for help....she spoke to the bureau director and told him to restore the eight-hour workday, or she would call for an investigation by Congress. The director held his own investigation and restored vacations and an eight-hour work day (Gretchen Woelfle, 2007). When Jeannette Rankin spoke up and took the stand against the director to provide better working conditions for the employees, she was able to represent the voice of the people. Rankin gave a voice to the employees through her when they could not, she was their voice. In another example where it shows Jeannette Rankin standing up for the workers of a company is when workers from Anaconda Copper Mining Company went on a strike after a fire killed 168 men. The workers went to Jeannette Rankin for help, they requested for her to speak to the national Department of Labor, and she did (Gretchen Woelfle, 2007). Jeannette Rankin was willing and did want to give this voice to citizens, so a conclusion can be drawn that Jeannette Rankin was supplying a voice to Americans because she has been in the public eye and is known as an activist. 7

In the end, Jeannette Rankin was the first woman ever to be elected to Congress, which played a major significance to women all over the country, because she took a stand in saying women were capable and competent in completing the job. Jeannette Rankin was also an activist which she spoke her opinion on the war, peace, working conditions, women's suffrage, equal rights, and women s birth control. Jeannette Rankin allowed and gave women and numerous other Americans the voice they never had by being elected and becoming a public figure. Works Cited Primary Sources: The Atlanta Georgian 13 Oct. 1934: n. pag. Print. Primary Source, this source was about Jeannette Rankin's opinion on why we have war and why we choose to fight. This source was helpful in my understanding, because it helped me understand why Rankin felt war was not helping anyone besides who makes a profit from the war. C. T. Chapman, Kensington, Md. Miss Jeannette Rankin, of Montana, Speaking from the Balcony of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, Monday, April 2, 1917. Apr. 2, 1917. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, Https://www.loc.gov/item/mnwp000156/. (Accessed November 03, 2016.) Primary source, this source is about Jeannette Rankin giving a speech from a balcony that was in the National American Woman Suffrage Association building. This picture helps me understand how much Jeannette Rankin wanted her voice to be heard and to have an impact. 8

Morley, Christopher. "The Congresslady." The New York Times 19 Nov. 1916, Sunday Magazine ed.: n. pag. Print. Primary source, this source was a poem about how the first 'congresslady' was elected; Jeannette Rankin. This source helped me understand how people felt about how a woman being elected into Congress, and how they think should would act throughout her term. Rankin, Jeannette. "Call To Protest." Letter to All American Women. 27 Nov. 1967. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print. Primary source, this source is about Jeannette Rankin calling to all American woman to meet and come with her to Washington, she says women are the ones who need to take care of the human race. This source helps me understand that Jeannette Rankin believed that women should help the human race, and how she wanted to make sure that future generations were in a good place of life. Rankin, Jeannette. Susan B. Anthony Hall of Fame Award Presentation. 1972. Speech. Primary source, this source was about how Jeannette Rankin when giving a speech during a Susan B. Anthony Hall of Fame ceremony said that more women need to become involved in politics to fix the problems in the country. This source helped me understand that Rankin believed women would be able to fix the problems of war. Secondary Sources: "American Civil Liberties Union." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2016, Americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/253367. Accessed 27 Sept. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about the American Civil Liberties Union and how they were formed, also what rights they advocated for. This source helped my 9

understanding, because it helped bring in context what Jeannette Rankin was apart of and fighting for. Biography.com Editors. "Margaret Chase Smith." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, N.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about Margaret Chase Smith when she was elected in Congress, and what her beliefs and the advocating she was involved with. This source helped me with my understanding, because it showed me what women were impacted and the women who were able to be apart of Congress after Jeannette Rankin had been elected. By the Time of Rankin's Election, the War in Europe Was in Full Force and a Debate about U.S. Involvement Had Broken Out. In This Raging Debate, Rankin Had Taken an Arms-length Attitude towards the Leading Isolationist Group, the America First Committee. "RANKIN, Jeannette US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives." RANKIN, Jeannette US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. N.p., N.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about Jeannette Rankin's life and many issues she fought for in and out of Congress. This helped me with my understanding, because it showed and brought to my attention in depth what Jeannette Rankin would advocate and bring attention to on the Congress floor. Also it showed me what took place when she was running and when elected. "Child Labor." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2016, Americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/262153. Accessed 27 Sept. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about child labor and how the public eye was starting to become more aware and voice an opinion about the unethical child labor going on. 10

This source helped my understanding, because it brought more context and knowledge to my understanding and how people were voicing their views on child labor. Deaths, By LocationNotable. "Jeannette Rankin, First U.S. Congresswoman." Legacy.com. N.p., N.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about Jeannette Rankin and what she did surrounding women's suffrage, the war and her impact on women after being elected. This source helped me with my understanding, because it showed how Rankin impacted the women of this country by getting elected and her belief for equal rights between the genders. Greene, Danielle. "Free Love Movement." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2016, Americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/256059. Accessed 27 Sept. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about the free love movement and how women when faced with sexual laws should get their right and say in it not the government, since most laws would discriminate against women. This source helped me with my understanding, because it provided more knowledge about what Jeannette Rankin was fighting for when advocating for birth control and other topics similar to this. Harper, Judith E. "Women's Rights Conventions." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2016, Americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/439087. Accessed 27 Sept. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about the women's rights convention and the women's suffrage, it told about the rights women deserved. This source helped me with me and my understanding, because it showed me what Jeannette Rankin was apart of (NAWSA) and what she was fighting for. 11

History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, RANKIN, Jeannette, http://history.house.gov/people/detail/20147 (November 03, 2016) Secondary source, this source was about the many things Jeannette Rankin was passionate and thought was worthwhile fighting for in and out of Congress, for example her pacifistic view on the war and how women would join Congress after her. This source helped me with my understanding because it provided me with information on what Jeannette Rankin thought on being the first woman to be elected into Congress and her immense view on war. History.com Staff. "Jeannette Rankin." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 10 Oct. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about Jeannette Rankin getting elected, what she did in Congress such as things she voted for and against, and what she did after her term. This source helped me with my understanding, because it provided information on what acts or laws that Jeannette Rankin would vote for or against. "Jeannette Rankin." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2016, Americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1457468. Accessed 22 Sept. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about Jeannette Rankin's life, such as her going through Congress, what she stood for in her position, and what she did afterwards. This source helped me with my understanding, because it granted me with background knowledge about Rankin, also it was allowed me to get information of what she did to help change America. "Jeannette Rankin." Contemporary Heroes and Heroines. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in Context. Web. 27 Sept. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about Jeannette 12

Rankin involvement with women's suffrage and what she did to change the country, also it was about Congress and other things that she protested for. This source helped me with my understanding, because I was able to gain knowledge on what Rankin was doing for women's right and their suffrage. "Jeannette Rankin Put Profession s Ethics Into Politics." Jeannette Rankin Put Profession s Ethics Into Politics. National Association of Social Workers, Inc., N.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about Jeannette Rankin and how she connected women's issues and peace issues together. This source helped me with my understanding, because I was able to see how Jeannette Rankin believed so strongly that women and peace were so closely tied together. "Jeannette Rankin Scholars 1976-2015Learn More»." Jeannette Rankin. N.p., N.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about Jeannette Rankin's foundation that was created for her to help women in many ways, such as education, which was a major one. This source helped me with my understanding, because it showed me how much of an impact Jeannette Rankin had on the world and many lives, and how she is still having an impact after her life has ended. Mankiller, Wilma Pearl. The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print. Secondary source, this source was about how Jeannette Rankin impacted the number of women in Congress after she was elected. This source helped me with my understanding, because I could see the number of women who were affected by Jeannette Rankin getting elected. 13

@moralheroes. "Jeannette Rankin - Moral Heroes." Moral Heroes RSS. N.p., 05 Dec. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about Jeannette Rankin helping and understanding the people of this country and what she would do in Congress to create her beliefs into a reality. This source helped me with my understanding, because I was able to really tell how much Jeannette Rankin cared about people and was willing to put herself into the American people's shoes. Murphy, Mary. When Jeannette Said No (n.d.): N. Pag. When Jeannette Said No Montana Women s Response to World War I. Spring 2015. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about how Jeannette Rankin voted no on the topic of going to war, and how that vote effected her life afterwards. This source helped me with my understanding, because it showed me that Jeannette Rankin was not afraid to share and state her beliefs even when she was the only one/few who shared it. Newman, Jason. "Sex Discrimination." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2016, Americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/262198. Accessed 27 Sept. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about the sex discrimination that women faced in the 20th century and laws and actions that were trying to happen or get passed to create a more equal society. This source helped me with my understanding, because it was able to provide me with more context of the kind of discrimination women were facing and what people were trying to do to fix it. Newman, Jason. "Women in Government." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2016, Americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/262204. Accessed 29 Sept. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about Women throughout the government, such as 14

how they got elected, what they planed to do in, also realizing they were equal compared to the male opponents. This source helped me with my understanding, because it gave me more knowledge on what it was like to be a woman in the government throughout the 20th century. Also in this source gave me a little information on how Jeannette Rankin impacted and was a role model for these women. "Peace Movement." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2016, Americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/256037. Accessed 27 Sept. 2016. Secondary source, this source was about the peace movement and what pacifist did in this movement when the U.S. entered WWI and WWII. This source helped me with my understanding, because Jeannette Rankin was a strong pacifist and was apart of the peace movement, this source allowed me to have extra knowledge on this movement Rankin participated in. "Senate Historical Office." 1878: Jeannette Rankin. N.p., N.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2016. Secondary source, this source is about Jeannette Rankin and her terms in Congress, also it shares that Rankin was not the only woman in Congress during her second term. This source helped me with my understanding, because it showed me the impact Jeannette Rankin had on women to be apart of Congress and that the two genders are equal. Vile, John R. "Nineteenth Amendment." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2016, Americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1353208. Accessed 27 Sept. 2016. Secondary source. this source was about the 19th amendment and how women were not treated equally in the constitution. This source helped me with my understanding, 15

because it provided me with more knowledge on the amendment and how women were being treated unequally to men. Woelfle, Gretchen. Jeannette Rankin: A Political Pioneer. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek, 2007. This source was about Jeannette Rankin's life from Congress to the protests and change she created. This source provided speeches and call to actions that she made and gave information on what her beliefs and how she wanted to change and did change that subject of matter. This source helped me with my understanding, because it allowed me to gather information about what Jeannette Rankin believed in, speeches she made to the people and Congress, also I was able to find out how she impacted the world. 16