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Susan Brownell Anthony was a Quaker. A Quaker is a member of a Christian group that was made in 1650. Being a Christian is following the teachings of Jesus Christ. Quakers are against war, and they believe that men and women should have equal rights. In the 1800's, men and women spoke at Quaker meetings. Only men were allowed to speak at churches. At that time, women could not vote or hold government offices. Women who were married, were not allowed to own property or sue anyone in court. Most colleges would not accept women. Susan was not happy about this. Susan became friends with many women who felt the same way she did. Susan spent almost all of her life fighting for women's rights. Susan was born February 15, 1820, in Adams, Massachusetts. Her father's name was Daniel, her mother, Lucy had eight children. Her dad was a Quaker, but her mother was not. Susan learned to read and write at age five. School master would not teach math to girls, so Susan taught herself. Susan became a Quaker at age thirteen. Daniel hired women to work in their mill twelve hours a day. Many stayed at the Anthony home. Susan's mom worked longer than twelve hours a day. She cooked and cleaned during the day. At night, she cooked for women at the mill. Susan was very helpful to her mother. She knew that running a house was hard work. Daniel thought that education was an important thing. At age seventeen, Daniel sent Susan to an advanced school for young women. Her father's business failed when she was eighteen. Susan became a school teacher to earn money for her family. She taught a school in New York. In 1846, Susan became the head teacher for young women. The man that was the head, young men's teacher was paid more money that Susan. Susan knew that it wasn't fair that he was getting paid more just because he was a man, but she didn't know what to do. Susan's mother and father went to a women's rights meeting in the year of 1850. After her parents had told her what some of those rights were, she decided to quit her job and work to win women's rights. In 1851, Susan and Elizabeth Cady Stanton met. Elizabeth had planned the first ever women's rights meeting in 1848 at Seneca Falls, New York. Elizabeth and Susan became a great team. Susan did most of the planning and some of the speaking. Elizabeth did most of the writing and a lot of the speaking. In the 19th Amendment, women finally gained the right to vote. |