AMER316

When the American political system was created, one's gender, race, and affluence were principal factors used to determine who was granted full citizenship rights. White men with property were allowed to vote without question and became the most privileged and powerful citizens in the new nation. Yet, that arrangement was questioned from the start as marginalized groups—including women of all races—pushed for equal citizenship and voting rights. This course examines their struggle for political and legal equality over time. We focus on women's participation, or lack thereof, in politics from colonial times through present day. Our goal is to explore how women's political engagement over time has highlighted cultural tensions related to race, motherhood, family life, sexuality, work, and the meaning of citizenship.
The class concludes by discussing the news of the day—in order to connect the tensions those contests exposed to what we have studied over the semester. The course is cross-listed with HIST 316.