State Historical Society of Iowa

Carrie Chapman Catt, Open Address to the U.S. Congress, November 1917

 Download PDF Resource

Courtesy of the Iowa State University's Archives of Women's Political Communication, Carrie Chapman Catt, Open Address to the U.S. Congress, November 1917

Description

Carrie Chapman Catt, who grew up in Charles City, Iowa and graduated from Iowa Agricultural College (now Iowa State University), was one of the key leaders of the women's suffrage movement and critical to the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. As president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, Catt traveled the country to lobby support for her organization's "Winning Plan," which campaigned for suffrage at both the state and federal levels. This document, written 7 months after the United States entered World War I, was written to Congress but open in the sense that it also targeted the general public. Although it was delivered orally on several occasions during her speaking tours, Catt never actually delivered this as a speech to Congress.

Transcribed Excerpt of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover's Comments on her Husband's Career and Public Service

Source Dependent Questions

  • What, according to Catt, were the "two fundamental principles of democratic government"? Why did she consider them so sacred?
  • Aside from those "two fundamental principles of democratic government," why did Catt argue women deserved the right to vote?
  • Keeping in mind the global context of 1917, what was, according to Catt, "the world tragedy of our day"? What was the connection between that and the women's suffrage movement in America?
  • Use an example from Catt's letter to explain how rhetorical questions can be a powerful tool when making an argument.
  • How did American society benefit from the work of Carrie Chapman Catt?

Citation Information

Catt, Carrie Chapman, Open Address to the U.S. Congress, November 1917. Courtesy of the Iowa State University's Archives of Women's Political Communication Courtesy of Library of Congress

State Historical Society of Iowa

How can we help?

Share feedback with us