Question

What was the main argument of the author against women's suffrage?

A)
Women lacked the knowledge and experience to participate in politics.

B) Women had natural and moral rights that were different from men's.

C) Women would lose their feminine charm and propriety if they voted.

D) Women already had enough privileges and protections without voting.

Answer 1

The main argument against women's suffrage was that women lacked the necessary knowledge and experience for political participation, largely due to their domestic roles and legal restrictions like coverture. The correct option is (A).

Step-by-step explanation:

The main argument of the author against women's suffrage was that women lacked the knowledge and experience to participate in politics. This stance was based on the belief that women naturally possessed a 'tenderness and delicacy of their minds', their 'retired mode of life', and their focus on domestic duties.

Moreover, the doctrine of coverture, which was prevalent in most states, made married women ineligible to own property or pay taxes, disqualifying them from voting according to the qualifications set by many states at the time.

However, proponents of women's suffrage, like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth, argued fiercely against these points, highlighting the inequities of barring single, property-holding women from voting and advocating for civil equality between men and women.