On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment took effect and women had the legal right to vote.
When the United States was established, voting rights were not as restricted as they would be a hundred years later. In New Jersey, women with property could vote. In other states, freemen could vote. However, by the time of the Civil War, these rights had all been stripped.
Many progressive women had banded together to work for civil rights as abolitionists. When women met at Seneca Falls in July 1848, Frederick Douglass was in attendance as well. It quite naturally occurred to several of these women that they were fighting for rights they did not themselves have. This was not universal; some women's societies felt that minorities should not be voting.
At the time of Seneca Falls, women were at the mercy of their husbands; they could not own property, enter into contracts, or serve on juries. One exception to this was the recent Married Women Property Act, which allowed women to keep property they had brought in into the marriage. During the marriage the property was under the husband's control, although it could no longer be seized for debts of the husband.
Another cause that fed into the Suffragettes was the temperance movements; alcohol was an even more dangerous bane to families when women could not control family finances nor count on law enforcement for protection.
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first major meeting of leaders in the new women's movement. Many of the attendees would not vote in their lifetime. One exception was Susan B. Anthony, who voted illegally in 1872. She was arrested, and went to court. She argued the Fourteenth Amendment applied to women; she was fined $100 which she refused to pay and in fact did not.
Voting was starting to undergo a shift. With the settlement of the West, voting was opening up for groups previously disenfranchised. Immigrants, for example, were allowed to vote in some frontier states. Wyoming enfranchised women in 1869. Many western states allowed women to vote long before the Amendment was passed. Montana elected Jeannette Rankin to the Senate in 1914. In the East, poll taxes and reading tests were being implemented.
The Amendment, after several abortive attempts between 1915-1919, finally passed on May 21, 1919 with the strong support of President Wilson. Soon ratified by the states, women could officially vote as of August 26, 1920.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
August 27
On August 27, 1908, President Lyndon Baines Johnson was born in Texas. He attended a teacher's college before his life in politics. He taught the children of Mexican immigrants. In later life, he would champion early education and the fight against poverty, having witnessed firsthand the effects.
Johnson ran for the House of Representatives in 1937, and moved to the Senate six years later. In 1953 he became House Minority Leader, the youngest to do so. A year later, he was Majority leader. Johnson was very effective in the Senate, and managed to pass a lot of legislation.
In 1960, Johnson became the running mate of John F. Kennedy. Johnson was not impressed with the Vice-Presidency. Upon the death of Kennedy, Johnson became President.
As President, he pushed Kennedy's civil rights legislation and the Great Society. The Great Society was a number of programs that attacked poverty and supported education, Medicare, urban renewal, and voting rights. Johnson also presided over the space program that would go on to put man on the moon.
Johnson also got enmeshed in the conflict in Vietnam. This made him tremendously unpopular. As a result, Johnson declined to run for re-election in 1968. He died of a heart attack in 1973.
Johnson did more for the poor than any president before or since. He championed civil rights and improved the lives of the elderly. He oversaw the creation of programs like Head Start. His legacy lives today.
Johnson ran for the House of Representatives in 1937, and moved to the Senate six years later. In 1953 he became House Minority Leader, the youngest to do so. A year later, he was Majority leader. Johnson was very effective in the Senate, and managed to pass a lot of legislation.
In 1960, Johnson became the running mate of John F. Kennedy. Johnson was not impressed with the Vice-Presidency. Upon the death of Kennedy, Johnson became President.
As President, he pushed Kennedy's civil rights legislation and the Great Society. The Great Society was a number of programs that attacked poverty and supported education, Medicare, urban renewal, and voting rights. Johnson also presided over the space program that would go on to put man on the moon.
Johnson also got enmeshed in the conflict in Vietnam. This made him tremendously unpopular. As a result, Johnson declined to run for re-election in 1968. He died of a heart attack in 1973.
Johnson did more for the poor than any president before or since. He championed civil rights and improved the lives of the elderly. He oversaw the creation of programs like Head Start. His legacy lives today.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
August 25
On August 25, 1950, President Harry Truman seized control of the railroads, specifically putting them under the control of the US Army.
The railroad unions were poised to strike, and the Korean Conflict was still ongoing. Truman justified intervening on the grounds on military need and economic necessity. The Korean Conflict was never a declared war, it was a police action. The railroads continue to be a vital link in interstate commerce, making it a federal concern, but interstate commerce is the purview of Congress.
Truman said it was a matter of "national defense and security". It was a expansive view of executive power, the trend of the 20th Century.
Truman intervened in several strikes during his term, including steel plants.
The strike did go on, and lasted for 21 months.
The railroad unions were poised to strike, and the Korean Conflict was still ongoing. Truman justified intervening on the grounds on military need and economic necessity. The Korean Conflict was never a declared war, it was a police action. The railroads continue to be a vital link in interstate commerce, making it a federal concern, but interstate commerce is the purview of Congress.
Truman said it was a matter of "national defense and security". It was a expansive view of executive power, the trend of the 20th Century.
Truman intervened in several strikes during his term, including steel plants.
The strike did go on, and lasted for 21 months.
Monday, August 24, 2009
August 24
On August 24, 1993, police starting investigating allegations of child abuse involving Michael Jackson.
Child abuse cases are very complicated to prosecute. Child abuse cases require all kinds of exemptions from the rules of evidence, and an exemption to the Constitutional right to confront one's accuser.
Children are allowed to testify at any trial as long as they understand the truth, are able to communicate, and have first hand knowledge. This can be problematic for very young children.
If the child is traumatized by the experience, the child may be excused from testifying and a transcript used instead. The courts generally prefer an available witness to testify because of the right to confront an accuser, but under certain circumstances (not specific to molestation cases) this can be exempted under hearsay rules.
In general, evidence of similar crimes is excluded in trial, unless it is a specific element of the crime in question. In molestation cases, there is a lot more leeway over what may be introduced into the record, and it doesn't need to be a particularly close match.
The biggest obstacle in prosecuting child molestation cases is probably the court system itself. The law is slow and deliberate, and a child may have to relive the experience multiple times. While the court system tries to minimize the impact on victims, the rights of the accused still need to be answered as well, and the accused is entitled to a defense.
Settlement may seem the best answer for everyone, regardless of what really occurred, which was the final result of the Jackson investigations.
Child abuse cases are very complicated to prosecute. Child abuse cases require all kinds of exemptions from the rules of evidence, and an exemption to the Constitutional right to confront one's accuser.
Children are allowed to testify at any trial as long as they understand the truth, are able to communicate, and have first hand knowledge. This can be problematic for very young children.
If the child is traumatized by the experience, the child may be excused from testifying and a transcript used instead. The courts generally prefer an available witness to testify because of the right to confront an accuser, but under certain circumstances (not specific to molestation cases) this can be exempted under hearsay rules.
In general, evidence of similar crimes is excluded in trial, unless it is a specific element of the crime in question. In molestation cases, there is a lot more leeway over what may be introduced into the record, and it doesn't need to be a particularly close match.
The biggest obstacle in prosecuting child molestation cases is probably the court system itself. The law is slow and deliberate, and a child may have to relive the experience multiple times. While the court system tries to minimize the impact on victims, the rights of the accused still need to be answered as well, and the accused is entitled to a defense.
Settlement may seem the best answer for everyone, regardless of what really occurred, which was the final result of the Jackson investigations.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
August 23
On August 23, 1927, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed by execution.
Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were two Italian immigrants accused of taking part in a robbery gone wrong. A payroll robbery that ended with killings. The perpetrators were described as Italian.
Sacco and Vanzetti were anarchists, not uncommon at the time. They had distributed some literature and attended meetings. There were a lot of procedural irregularities in the police work, the the judge in the proceedings was openly hostile to the defendants. Unfortunately for Sacco and Vanzetti, the same judge presided over his appeal.
The case was sensational and attracted a lot of press. Another man confessed he had participated, but not action was taken. Worldwide protests were held, but the Supreme Court declined to reopen the case.
In 1961, the gun used was tested using science not available at the time of the killings. The evidence strongly indicated Sacco's gun was used. The chain of evidence was not unbroken however. The general belief is that Vanzetti was not involved, in fact there was evidence he was elsewhere when the robbery was committed.
Governor Dukakis issued a pardon in 1977.
Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were two Italian immigrants accused of taking part in a robbery gone wrong. A payroll robbery that ended with killings. The perpetrators were described as Italian.
Sacco and Vanzetti were anarchists, not uncommon at the time. They had distributed some literature and attended meetings. There were a lot of procedural irregularities in the police work, the the judge in the proceedings was openly hostile to the defendants. Unfortunately for Sacco and Vanzetti, the same judge presided over his appeal.
The case was sensational and attracted a lot of press. Another man confessed he had participated, but not action was taken. Worldwide protests were held, but the Supreme Court declined to reopen the case.
In 1961, the gun used was tested using science not available at the time of the killings. The evidence strongly indicated Sacco's gun was used. The chain of evidence was not unbroken however. The general belief is that Vanzetti was not involved, in fact there was evidence he was elsewhere when the robbery was committed.
Governor Dukakis issued a pardon in 1977.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
August 22
On August 22, 1864. the Red Cross was formed, as well as twelve nations signing the first Geneva Convention.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has a very interesting special status in international law. It is charged with protecting the life and dignity of victims of wars, including soldiers. The Red Cross is prohibited in taking sides in conflicts. In return, Red Cross workers are supposed to be respected in conflicts.
The Red Cross has an analogue in the Red Crescent. The Red Crescent operates by the same rules, among which are the societies have to be recognized as relief societies by their own government, and the governments in question have to be signatories to the Geneva Convention. Most countries are. There are other afflilated organizations, but not recognized in the same way.
The UN has given the Red Cross official observer status, the first organization to be so recognized. The Red Cross today traces the dead, oversees prisoners of war, and arbitrates in international conflicts.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has a very interesting special status in international law. It is charged with protecting the life and dignity of victims of wars, including soldiers. The Red Cross is prohibited in taking sides in conflicts. In return, Red Cross workers are supposed to be respected in conflicts.
The Red Cross has an analogue in the Red Crescent. The Red Crescent operates by the same rules, among which are the societies have to be recognized as relief societies by their own government, and the governments in question have to be signatories to the Geneva Convention. Most countries are. There are other afflilated organizations, but not recognized in the same way.
The UN has given the Red Cross official observer status, the first organization to be so recognized. The Red Cross today traces the dead, oversees prisoners of war, and arbitrates in international conflicts.
Friday, August 21, 2009
August 21
On August 21, 1959, Hawaii becomes the 50th state.
Hawaii has an interesting history. First settled by Polynesians, it was discovered by James Cook in 1778. He named the islands the Sandwich Islands for European purposes. Cook died there in a dispute with the local people.
In 1810, the various tribes were united under Kamehameha the Great. Europeans were settling on the islands, and in 1887 pushed the signing of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii. This was a document that limited the king's power, disenfranchised Asian voters, and restricted voting to wealthy European landowners. In 1893, a group of landowners staged a coup and created a provisional government. This coup had the aid of a group of marines that were there to "protect" the American residents.
Despite this, a lot of American government officials had qualms about what to do with Hawaii. Grover Cleveland's government declared the coup illegal and demanded Queen Liliʻuokalani be returned to power. The provisional government refused. Congress on the other hand looked more favorably upon the landowner's actions.
In 1898, Hawaii was formally annexed to the United States. While many residents wanted statehood, the landowners that ran Hawaii preferred territorial status. Statehood would confer voting rights on all legal citizens, not just the wealthy. When voting on statehood at long last, Hawaiians voted 17-1 in favor.
Hawaii has an interesting history. First settled by Polynesians, it was discovered by James Cook in 1778. He named the islands the Sandwich Islands for European purposes. Cook died there in a dispute with the local people.
In 1810, the various tribes were united under Kamehameha the Great. Europeans were settling on the islands, and in 1887 pushed the signing of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii. This was a document that limited the king's power, disenfranchised Asian voters, and restricted voting to wealthy European landowners. In 1893, a group of landowners staged a coup and created a provisional government. This coup had the aid of a group of marines that were there to "protect" the American residents.
Despite this, a lot of American government officials had qualms about what to do with Hawaii. Grover Cleveland's government declared the coup illegal and demanded Queen Liliʻuokalani be returned to power. The provisional government refused. Congress on the other hand looked more favorably upon the landowner's actions.
In 1898, Hawaii was formally annexed to the United States. While many residents wanted statehood, the landowners that ran Hawaii preferred territorial status. Statehood would confer voting rights on all legal citizens, not just the wealthy. When voting on statehood at long last, Hawaiians voted 17-1 in favor.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)