The Women of America
Document A
Women's Suffrage
Note: Please view the instructional video for additional context.
Essential Questions:
Is Lincoln progressive in his views on women's rights?
Is he actually saying that he supports women's suffrage in this letter?
Essential Questions:
Is Lincoln progressive in his views on women's rights?
Is he actually saying that he supports women's suffrage in this letter?
To the Editor of the Sangamo Journal
NEW SALEM, June 13, 1836.
To the Editor of the Journal:
In your paper of last Saturday, I see a communication over the signature of ``Many Voters,'' in which the candidates who are announced in the Journal, are called upon to ``show their hands.'' Agreed. Here's mine!
I go for all sharing the privileges of the government, who assist in bearing its burthens. Consequently I go for admitting all whites to the right of suffrage, who pay taxes or bear arms, (by no means excluding females.)
If elected, I shall consider the whole people of Sangamon my constituents, as well those that oppose, as those that support me.
While acting as their representative, I shall be governed by their will, on all subjects upon which I have the means of knowing what their will is; and upon all others, I shall do what my own judgment teaches me will best advance their interests. Whether elected or not, I go for distributing the proceeds of the sales of the public lands to the several states, to enable our state, in common with others, to dig canals and construct rail roads, without borrowing money and paying interest on it.
If alive on the first Monday in November, I shall vote for Hugh L. White for President. Very respectfully, A. LINCOLN.
NEW SALEM, June 13, 1836.
To the Editor of the Journal:
In your paper of last Saturday, I see a communication over the signature of ``Many Voters,'' in which the candidates who are announced in the Journal, are called upon to ``show their hands.'' Agreed. Here's mine!
I go for all sharing the privileges of the government, who assist in bearing its burthens. Consequently I go for admitting all whites to the right of suffrage, who pay taxes or bear arms, (by no means excluding females.)
If elected, I shall consider the whole people of Sangamon my constituents, as well those that oppose, as those that support me.
While acting as their representative, I shall be governed by their will, on all subjects upon which I have the means of knowing what their will is; and upon all others, I shall do what my own judgment teaches me will best advance their interests. Whether elected or not, I go for distributing the proceeds of the sales of the public lands to the several states, to enable our state, in common with others, to dig canals and construct rail roads, without borrowing money and paying interest on it.
If alive on the first Monday in November, I shall vote for Hugh L. White for President. Very respectfully, A. LINCOLN.
Source: Abraham Lincoln to the Editor of the Sangamo Journal in The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln: Volume I. http://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/
Image Source: The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/politics-reform/resources/suffragists-invoke-lincoln-1910
Image Source: The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/politics-reform/resources/suffragists-invoke-lincoln-1910