50 pts + 9 vote pts

Past Life Journal:

Harry Thomas Burn

By Ishaan and Isha Desai

 

Tennessee legislator Harry T. Burn after his crucial vote for the 19th Amendment 

Introduction

For hundreds of years in U.S. history, women were consistently considered inferior to men in terms of status, position, intelligence, and ability. As American society adopted principles and ideologies such as the Republican Motherhood and the Cult of Domesticity, women were inevitably relegated to lesser roles and were denied equal rights.

However, in the 19th and 20th centuries, women's passion for equality and societal change began to augment, for they realized that the democratic assertions of the U.S. Constitution should also apply to women. Specifically speaking, numerous women adhered to Susan B. Anthony's and Elizabeth Stanton's ideas concerning women's suffrage. As a result, organizations such as the National American Woman Suffrage Association and the National Woman's Party were established by feminists such as Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt. In the end, women suffragists accomplished their goal by adding the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which them the precious right to vote.  Women's suffrage was definitely one of the most significant political and social transformations that occurred in America throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Women's Suffrage Movement was a highly controversial movement, for it challenged the societal and political policies that ruled America during much of the 18th and 19th centuries.

This historical activity strives to study the progress in the women's suffrage movement by analyzing the various perspectives regarding women's suffrage. The foundation for this historical activity is determined by the following complex question:

What were the conflicting viewpoints on women's suffrage, and how did the suffragists ultimately achieve the 19th Amendment?

In this inquiry, the above complex historical question is answered through the words of Harry Thomas Burn, a Tennessee legislator who played a key role in the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Because Burn was quite undecided on whether women should be able to vote, it is possible to consider views on women's suffrage through his eyes. The aforementioned complex historical question is then followed by more complex questions that specifically relate to Thomas Burn and his contributions to the 19th Amendment. A biography and two diary entries of Burn are written to determine how different groups of people felt about women's suffrage and how women ultimately achieved the right to vote.

Biography-Harry Thomas Burn

Harry Thomas Burn was born on November 12, 1895, in Niota, Tennessee. At the early age of 22, Harry Burn belonged to the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of Tennessee, for McMinn County.

Initially, Harry T. Burn was not a prominent or accomplished legislator or politician, as he was just commencing his career. However, by carrying out a crucial action to ratify the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, Burn achieved great fame and eminence.

As a result of the controversy surrounding women's rights, the 19th Amendment, which prohibited the federal and state governments from denying citizens the right to vote on the basis of gender, confronted intense opposition from a plethora of states. In order to become lawful, the 19th Amendment required ratification from at least 36 of the 48 states. By summer of 1920, 35 states had already voted in favor of the amendment, and the decision then depended on Tennessee.

At Tennessee's voting meeting on August 18, 1920, the decision was deadlocked, for there were equal amounts of support and opposition for the amendment. The decision ultimately came down to 24 year-old Harry Burn. Despite wearing the anti-suffrage red rose, Burn voted in favor of the 19th Amendment and, in turn, made it effective in the United States.

While women and other groups of people commended Burn, several anti-suffragists irately denounced his decision. Burn considerably encountered much hostility from such anti-suffragists. Nevertheless, Burn's final decision was incredibly vital for the progress of women's rights.

Harry Burn maintained his position as a legislator for a large portion of his life. His various positions in both local and state government included:

1. Tennessee State House of Representatives, 1919-1923
2. Tennessee State Senate, 1949-1953
3. Tennessee State Planning Commission, 1952-1958
4. Delegate for Roane County to Constitutional Conventions, 1953, 1959, 1965

At the age of 81, Burn died on February 19, 1977.

Diary Entry 1-Before Vote for 19th Amend.

August 17, 1920

Dear Diary,

Since the 'Declaration of Sentiments' in 1948, women have fervently and assiduously fought for one of the most basic rights provided by our constitutional democratic republic: the right to vote. Numerous women's suffrage groups have been established by leaders such as Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul over the last few years, including the National American Woman Suffrage Association and the National Woman's Party. In consequence of these suffrage groups, women are getting closer and closer to achieving the right to vote.

Now, the decision on whether women should be allowed the right to vote depends on the outlooks of me and my fellow Tennessee legislators. Tomorrow, August 18, I will have to administer my vote on the proposed 19th Amendment, which was passed by Congress in 1919. The 19th Amendment states, "The right of the citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

What do you think I should do? I am extremely nervous for tomorrow because this amendment is one of the most significant pieces of legislation I have ever voted on as a legislator. I am not exactly sure whether I should vote in favor of Catt and the other women or whether I should support the anti-suffragists.

However, I feel slightly more persuaded by the case that the anti-suffragists. Why do women need the right to vote? The framers of our beloved Constitution did not intend for women to receive the various rights. Why do they suddenly to vote?!

Women have accepted their lack of voting rights for myriad years since the birth of the United States. The Republican Motherhood and Cult of Domesticity have happily been adopted by society; as asserted by these concepts, women have to take on the responsibilities of caring for children, doing housework, and providing basic education. If women are given the right to vote, they may gain too much power in society, and they may forget their ideal roles. Men must have utmost power in our country in order to progress and excel. Quite frankly, it is not moral for women to vote in a male-dominant government. Furthermore, a completely new population of female voters may disturb current politics. Many of these women are uneducated and certainly not well informed, so they can easily make wrong and foolish decisions for our state of Tennessee and for our nation.

Diary, I strongly agree with the pessimistic perspective that President Woodrow Wilson initially possessed about women's suffrage. Before he supported suffrage, Wilson declared that women's suffrage is not entirely necessary at the present time. Without doubt, the United States has many more important economic/labor and foreign policies. For example, the U.S. government must take the initiative to control the battle between capital and labor. Under the leadership of Eugene V. Debs, the labor class is becoming quite radical while the capital class is reluctant to acknowledge the needs of workers. I feel that it is important to tackle such issues before paying attention to an insignificant matter such as women's suffrage.

The issue of women's suffrage also depends on the desires of women. Although many women desire a say in their government through voting, many more women do not. In 1895, the state of Massachusetts surveyed its women and asked whether they desired suffrage. Less than a mere four percent of the female population wanted to vote, thus corroborating that a large majority of the women in our country do not need this basic right. 

Diary, I am not sure if I am making the best decision, but as I just described to you, the conservative and radical women, such as Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Carrie Chapman Catt, truly do not need or deserve suffrage. American society has not evolved to a level that requires female participation in government and politics. Also, I was disgusted and incredibly furious when the women of the National Woman's Party, under Alice Paul, protested at the White House for suffrage during World War I. How dare they attack a wartime president?! Don't they realize that their picketing was essentially insubordination and treason?!

Tomorrow, I will proudly march into the Tennessee legislature hall and boast my red rose to show my support for the anti-suffrage sentiment. I hope all goes well tomorrow, and I also hope that the other legislators of our state government realize that suffrage is superfluous in a time when America has a multitude of other issues to confront. I will continue to contemplate my decision and consider other perspectives on the suffrage issue. Okay, I need to go now. Bye.

Yours,

Harry Burn

Diary Entry 2-After Vote for 19th Amend.

August 19, 1920

Dear Diary,

Hi! How are you doing? I have some incredible and quite unexpected news for you: the 19th Amendment of the United States Constitution has been ratified!

Yes, I know that you may be incredibly shocked by this because I slightly opposed women's suffrage in the previous entry, but it is most certainly the truth. I have completely altered my opinions on women's suffrage after considering the other perspective of this issue.

Yesterday, we all gathered in the Tennessee Legislature Hall, where we began the voting process. Our state's legislature was incredibly divided, as several of my fellow legislators promoted the amendment while numerous others opposed it. In the end, the voting was deadlocked, and I had the last vote needed to determine whether the U.S. Constitution would showcase a 19th amendment granting women voting rights. Indeed, I voted for the amendment.

A large majority of the hall was shocked at my decision. I was wearing a red rose, which symbolized opposition to women's voting rights, so people did not expect my decision. However, I contradicted what I stated in the previous diary entry by voting in favor of the amendment.

Why did I change my decision, you ask? I decided to alter my opinions on women's suffrage after considering the other perspectives of this issue: those of the radical and conservative women who desired voting rights.

My mother sent me a note which stated the following: “Dear Son:  Hurrah and vote for suffrage!  I notice some of the speeches against.  I have been watching to see how you stood but have not notices anything.  Don’t forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the ‘rat’ in ratification.  Your Mother.”

I read my mother's words and immediately thought of the leaders of the myriad suffrage organizations. For example, I began to look through the eyes of Mrs. Catt and Mrs. Paul, and I realized that the cause they were fighting for was not merely voting, but also social equality.

Why should women be neglected and demeaned in our society? They are humans and they are citizens of the United States. While the framers of the Constitution may not have considered female rights, the Constitution never states that women should lack rights.

After countless years of tolerating the 'inferiority' of their gender, women such as Alice Paul have decided to step up and fight to stand up against men. She has realized that while she wants to vote, she more passionately wishes to have equal status and position in society as well.

I began to recall all the things that Alice Paul and members of the NWP/NAWSA experienced in order to achieve the constitutional amendment. For example, I remember that parade that the women organized to advocate for liberty and equality for women. I recall that Alice Paul and the others walked with so much dignity, pride, and courage to assert their position. Even when some men exemplified hostility towards them, the women continued to walk with poise (See Video Below). Also, the women courageously protested at the White House during war and went on a hunger strike at jail. All of their actions espouse how much desire, how much want they possess for the 19th Amendment.

All in all, women have always supported men in all areas of life. In World War I, for example, women have consistently provided mental and emotional support for their men. When Woodrow Wilson endorsed women's suffrage in 1918, I partially disagreed with him. However, as I reconsider his endorsement, I realize that he was morally proper.

Women have equal ability, intelligence, and humanlike nature as men. They most certainly deserve the same rights. The United States has fostered oppression for much too long. Our country's philosophies completely contradicts our country's philosophies; if we want to spread democracy, we need to have democracy for both sexes. 

 

Yours,

Harry Burn

 

Reflection/Conclusion and Risks

In conclusion, after researching the women's suffrage movement, the 19th Amendment, Harry Burn, and the multiple perspectives surrounding gender equality in the early 1900s, we have answered our guiding question: What were the conflicting viewpoints on women's suffrage, and how did the suffragists ultimately achieve the 19th Amendment? Essentially, numerous viewpoints existed on women's suffrage including opposition to suffrage, conservative approach to suffrage, and radical approach to suffrage. All of these viewpoints conflicted with each other, but the women's suffrage movement was ultimately a success. Suffragists were able to achieve the 19th Amendment after influencing society with their ideologies. If America was to accept women as equals, women had to appeal to large groups of people. Also, through analyzing the situation through Harry Burn's point-of-view, we were able to perceive and justify each side of the women's suffrage movement.

This mission certainly affects our lives. After investigating the women's suffrage movement in U.S. history, we were able to realize that dangers that exist with intolerance based on any type of categorization, in this case by gender. Moreover, we better understand how history is not merely a set of dates and facts; instead, history involves conflicting opinions and perspectives and showcase human interaction. Finally, through researching the suffrage movement, we have realized that society will continuously change as new ideas emerge and as old ideas disappear. Therefore, we understand that it is important to consider all perspectives in order to make proper decisions.

The risks that we took while doing this mission have helped us greatly. By choosing a person that is not widely known and writing from his perspective, we have discovered that people in history were normal people having everyday lives just as today. Even though there were distinct people, America only developed due to collective change in the infrastructure of society. We also took the risk of using different types of media including video and pictures. We are not very technologically advanced, but have learned a great deal through our experiences with this mission.

Works Cited

Works Cited

Primary Sources

Abbott, Lyman. "Why Women Do Not Wish the Suffrage." Welcome to About.com. Sept 1903. 30 May 2008 . (Website having a primary source article revealing why suffrage is not wanted)

Bausum, Ann. "With Courage and Cloth Winning the Fight for a Woman's Right to Vote." Ann Bausum- American History Book Author. 2007. 30 May 2008 . (Website having a primary source photo of Harry Burn)

"Declaration of Rights and Sentiments." American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE52&iPin=E04720&SingleRecord=True (accessed May 31, 2008). (Database having the text of the Declaration of Sentiments)

"Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution." American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE52&iPin=E09830&SingleRecord=True (accessed May 31, 2008). (Database having the text of the 19^th Amendment)

"Life." Welcome to About.com. 2008. About, Inc.. 30 May 2008 . (Website having a primary source editorial opposing women’s suffrage)

"Women's Suffrage Documents and Artifacts." Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. 31 May 2008 . (Website having a primary source picture of suffragists)

Secondary Sources

 

Bucy, Carole. "Tennessee Women and the Vote: Tennessee’s Pivotal Role in the Passage of the Nineteenth Amendment." 1995. 30 May 2008 . (Website discussing Harry Burns’ and Tennessee’s role in 19^th Amendment)

"Feminism, Women's Suffrage and Women's Rights." Welcome to About.com. 2008. About, Inc.. 30 May 2008 . (Website discussing women’s rights and suffrage)

"Harry T. Burn." Welcome to Wikipedia. 10 May 2008. Wikipedia. 30 May 2008 . (Website discussing Harry T. Burn)

Helmer, Diana Star. "Catt, Carrie Chapman." Women Suffragists, American Profiles. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1998. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE52&iPin=AHBio0341&SingleRecord=True (accessed May 31, 2008). (Database biography of Carrie Chapman Catt)

"The History of Women's Suffrage." The History Channel. 2008. A&E Television Networks. 30 May 2008 . (Website discussing women’s suffrage)

Iron Jawed Angels (Movie discussing the women’s suffrage movement)

"Iron Jawed Angels - Parade In Washington." Youtube- Broadcast Yourself. 31 May 2008 . (Website having a video concerning women’s suffrage)

Jaycox, Faith. "War and the End of an Era: 1917–1920." The Progressive Era, Eyewitness History. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE52&iPin=EHPEEssay09&SingleRecord=True (accessed May 31, 2008). (Database Article discussing the Progressive Era)

"Women's Fight for the Vote: The Nineteenth Amendment." UMKC School of Law. 31 May 2008 . (Website discussing the 19^th Amendment)