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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
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Although this work is subtitled an autobiographical history of the Equal Suffrage movement in the Pacific Coast States, it is not an autobiography of the author. It does touch on the facts of her being born in Illinois, traveling the Oregon Trail, maintaining a journal of that trek, at her father's behest, as well as her later marriage and motherhood experiences. It is mainly a collection of her memoirs associated with the right to vote for women in the Pacific Northwest that makes this work and eye-opener for the way things were a mere century ago for women of the United States.
It is arranged by theme, and gives accounts of Duniway's unceasing efforts, once she launched her campaign to achieve equal suffrage for women in Oregon. While she was instrumental in gaining that right for women of Idaho and Washington and played a small role in the California campaign, she endured loss after loss in Oregon at the ballot box. After each defeat, she came back swinging and finally was victorious in 1912 after more than 30 years of dedication to that issue.
As she said Equal Suffrage was not an issue of men vs. women regarding women's right to vote. It was a continued effort of broad-minded women and men to overcome the narrow minds of other women and men. In fact it was generally the women populace who worked hardest to defeat Duniway's campaigns, although many Protestant ministers and certain business men including some influential newspaper editors were the ones providing the greatest impetus for maintaining the status quo.
Duniway learned many hard lessons in the political arena and had to overcome major obstacles all along the way. One of the most formidable contests was convincing voters that women were not universally prohibitionists and would not vote away man's right to imbibe. As the Women's Christian Temperance Union organized, marched, and openly campaigned to shut down the liquor trade in all aspects, Duniway quietly organized, lectured, and educated on the fact that giving women the right to vote was securing a right, while the temperance union was working to deny a right.
Another unusual twist to Duniway's work was that the Suffragettes of the East Coast tended to do more harm than good when they came to the West to "help." While Susan B. Anthony remained in the good graces of suffragettes everywhere including with Duniway's women's club members, some of the other workers came on too strong and increased antagonism among the anti-suffrage groups.
Another fascinating factor about the content of this book is Duniway's unwavering loyalty and praise for the State of Oregon, its potential and its beauty. This is an account that while it has no direct bearing on today's issues, it is certainly educational in how to persevere in the public domain in order to overcome injustices in society. I sincerely believe that all high school students should read this account before taking their place as voters in our society. Their appreciation of that privilege would be enhanced greatly.
*Abigail Scott Duniway is named in the Women's Hall of Fame as Oregon's representative.