Arizona Civics Podcast
Welcome to the Arizona Civics Podcast. This podcast aims to share our journey of sustaining Arizona’s interests in reforms to civic education by working with civic educators in our state. This work is being done by the Center for American Civics at Arizona State University. I am your host, Liz Evans, Civic Education and Outreach Program Director at ASU, and I will interview Arizona teachers, content experts, and leaders in civic education. We hope you enjoy our journey to make Arizona a national civics model!
Arizona Civics Podcast
From Exclusion to Empowerment: The Journey of Women’s Suffrage in Arizona
In this episode, we unravel the fascinating history of women’s suffrage in Arizona, a state that initially entered the Union without giving women the right to vote, yet rapidly moved towards suffrage even before the Nineteenth Amendment took effect in 1920. We'll explore the complex landscape of political reform in the early 1900s and how social movements collided within the Arizona Constitutional Convention.
Join us as we discuss the significant events leading up to the pivotal November 1912 elections when voters approved one of the first five amendments granting women the constitutional right to vote in Arizona. We'll dive into the challenges faced by suffragettes like Frances Willard Munds and Pauline O’Neill, who fought tirelessly for recognition amidst political maneuvering and deep-seated fears that women’s suffrage would fuel the prohibition movement.
Learn why earlier conventions hesitated to embrace suffrage, the fears surrounding a perceived link between voting rights and alcohol reform, and how the initiative process became a powerful tool for activists. We'll recount the successful campaign to amend the constitution, leading to a historic victory for women in Arizona that occurred well ahead of many states.
Finally, we reflect on Arizona’s progressive political legacy, highlighting the notable women who have risen to positions of power, from governors to U.S. senators. This episode is a compelling narrative of how Arizona’s early adoption of women’s suffrage not only transformed its political landscape but also set a precedent for women's leadership in the state. Join us for an enlightening journey through Arizona's history of women's rights and representation.
The Arizona Constitution Project
Check Out Our Free Lessons on Arizona History and Government!
Follow us on:
Twitter
Linked In
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Website
Interested in a Master's Degree? Check out the School of Civic and Economic Leadership's Master's in Classical Liberal Education and Leadership
