In 2016, Hilary Rodham Clinton became
the first woman to ever become a candidate for a major party in the United
States. Now notice that wording. She was the first for a “major party.” That
makes you wonder. Who was the first woman to ever run for president for any
U.S. party?
Allow me to introduce to you Victoria
Claflin Woodhull. In 1872, Woodhull became the first woman in United States
history to run for president.
Now I know what you’re thinking. Wasn’t
the 19th amendment, the amendment that gave the right for all women
in the United States to vote, passed in 1920? Why yes it was, which means
exactly what you think it means. Victoria Woodhull ran for president and was
not able to vote for herself.
Awkward, right? Well, that’s only part of
her story, but before we get to those details, let’s get into some background
into Woodhull as a candidate.
Victoria Woodhull was a candidate for
the Equal Rights Party, whose name should make it obvious enough that she campaigned
for equal rights for women and women’s suffrage. This garnered attention for
many across the United States since women had very little rights during the 19th
century. Women had to act and dress a certain way. Women could
not vote, which in turn meant they had very little voice in politics.
A platform for women’s rights would
receive support from many fellow suffragists, such as Susan B. Anthony. They
all supported each other during rallies and especially during another historic
moment for Woodhull.
She was the first woman to ever address
a Congressional committee. Her case was that women already had the right to
vote due to the 14th and 15th amendments. The 14th
amendment helped former slaves and all people born in the U.S. to the same
rights as all other citizens under the Bill of Rights. The 15th
amendment claimed that states could not deny a citizen of their right to vote
on the grounds of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude” (United States Senate). Her petition
was rejected, but she would gain more of a leadership position amongst
suffragists and would bring in large audiences of the thousands.
However, Woodhull’s fellow suffragists
were quick to turn on her due to her “radical” ideas.
You see, Victoria’s major part of her
campaign was “free love”. This isn’t the 70s. This was a controversial part
of her campaign that created many opponents for her. We might not think too
much about it now, but divorce was something that was not possible in the 19th
century. Well, unless you were man.
Victoria sought to expose this double
standard where men could divorce without any recourse but women could not. She
even claimed that marriage was a form of “sexual slavery.” She was very
outspoken about female sexuality and claimed that women had the right to do
what they wanted with their bodies, even wanting to legalize prostitution. Sure
rings a bell, right?
These radical ideas differed from the
moderate point of view Susan B. Anthony took. Anthony believed that women
needed to band together and work within the system to achieve small bits of
liberation at a time. Woodhull believed the system was too broken to be
salvaged and fought to gain equality for all women in all different fronts
whether it be socially, financially, or politically.
She was also bashed in the media as
well. Luckily for her, the Internet was not around, but newspapers were just as
brutal to her. Her most popular nickname given to her by opponents was “Mrs.
Satan!”
Remember before when I mentioned awkward
moments? Well, Election Day would be the beneficiary of more of those awkward
moments for Victoria.
For starters, if Victoria was able to
win the presidency, she couldn’t actually become president due to the
Constitution’s rule of a U.S. president needing to be at least 35 years old.
Victoria would have become only been 34 by inauguration day. Also, if she were to win
the presidency on Election Day, she would have made the acceptance speech in
jail. Let me explain.
Another first[1]
for Woodhull was starting a newspaper with her sisters that was called Woodhull & Claflin’s Weekly. A few
days before the election, Woodhull published a piece in her newspaper calling
out a famous, minister, Reverend Henry Ward Beecher for his many affairs and
speaking on the hypocrisy of his actions since his social status and his gender
allowed this behavior to be acceptable. Woodhull and her sisters were arrested
on the charges of indecency[2]
for publishing this piece and were put in
jail for a month.
Despite her run for presidency ending on
a down note, her radical ideas for the time and the ambition she had to break
free from societal norms and actively try to change things for women should be
commemorated.
We may look down on ideas that break the
barriers of society, whether it comes to paying everyone of all genders the
same wage, abortion rights, and even wanting more strong, female protagonists
in films, but it is those exact ideas that institute real change and bring
people of all genders and races together.
So whenever the United States elects its
first female president, they should thank Victoria Claflin Woodhull for
cementing the foundation for a historic moment.
References
Felsenthal, Carol. "The Strange Tale of the First
Woman to Run for President." POLITICO Magazine. N.p., 09 Apr. 2015. Web.
07 Feb. 2017.
Gal, Renegade. "The Great Rivalry of Anthony and
Woodhull." Rebellious Times. N.p., 08 Feb. 2016. Web. 10 Feb. 2017.
Greenspan, Jesse. "9 Things You Should Know About
Victoria Woodhull." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 23 Sept.
2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Hampson, Rick. "First Woman to Run for
President." USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, 07 Nov.
2016. Web. 5 Feb. 2017.
Lewis, Danny. "Victoria Woodhull Ran for
President Before Women Had the Right to Vote." Smithsonian.com.
Smithsonian Institution, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Woodhull, Victoria C., and Cari M. Carpenter. Selected
Writings of Victoria Woodhull: Suffrage, Free Love, and Eugenics. Lincoln: U of
Nebraska, 2010. Print.
"Victoria C. Woodhull." Encyclopedia of
World Biography, Gale, 1998. U.S. History in Context,
libraries.state.ma.us/login?gwurl=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1631007058/UHIC?u=mlin_n_umass&xid=c62853be.
Accessed 7 Feb. 2017.
"Victoria C. Woodhull." Gale Biography in Context,
Gale, 2010. Biography in Context,
libraries.state.ma.us/login?gwurl=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/PC4295812349/BIC1?u=mlin_n_umass&xid=5d9ecafe.
Accessed 7 Feb. 2017.
Image References
Photo of women voting taken Oct. 1, 1931
Illustration of Victoria Woodhull campaigning from the Hulton Archive
Photo of women being arrested in Chicago for bathing suits taken in 1922.
2 Quotes taken from A-Z Quote
Video References
“Hundreds of thousands turn out for
Women's March on Washington”. The National. Jan 27, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-9UEq3T_5A&t=2s
“Mini BIO - Susan B. Anthony”. BIO. Oct
17, 2012.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-suAlXQhMI
“Veep Season 5: Trailer (HBO)”. HBO. May
12, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYt6r4dY5Ms
“Women are protesting for abortion
rights in Poland”. Al Jazeera English. Oct 5, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqkslEpgRFs
“[HD] Kylo Ren vs Finn and Rey scene -
Star Wars 7”. Dark Ren. Mar 28, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV6sjwqCQ2M&t=15s
“scene from Commander in Chief”. unkabnin.
Mar 27, 2008.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lugmNWK3PUg
“Kisses for my President Part 1”. Mei
Kwai. Nov 10, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfTsMLxHb8g
[1]
Woodhull also founded the first women’s owned stock brokerage.
[2]
This meant that Woodhull and her sister were charged for spreading lies onto a
person without any sort of factual evidence
Victoria Claflin Woodhull demonstrates the interesting way that society functions and how many things can change over time. A story like hers is extremely important nowadays because it could be happening somewhere in the world right now. The gay rights movement has fostered many ideas that have been criticized by the media and been called radical. However most of the things Woodhull wanted are considered basic human rights today while in there time they were considered radical. It is similar to what happens to Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird, she is ridiculed about how she needs to act more ladylike for running around and playing with the boys and such. Nowadays though her behavior would be accepted and normal just like the ideas of Woodhull. That does make me wonder though, if Victoria Claflin Woodhull ran for president today do you think she would win? or is the same animosity that plagued her before still around to keep a women from getting to the white house.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting thought Max. You are right that most of the ideas from the past are now considered pretty basic nowadays, especially the want for equal rights. I don't think Woodhull would have much of a chance if she were to run today since she probably wouldn't run as a Democrat or a Republican, and it could end up like her original run, where she didn't garner a lot of votes (about 1,000 or so). She probably would've called out some women in the House or Senate for not doing enough as well, so she wouldn't get a lot of political support, but I'm sure she could get much more support than before in today's times.
DeleteVictoria Claflin Woodhull was clearly an important activist of the 19th century’s women’s movement. While I had previously never heard of Victoria Woodhull, I have been informed about the time period, and women’s rights from my European History class. Women have been oppressed for centuries, and continue to be treated unequally to men. Historical figures much like Victoria Claflin Woodhull, have empowered women to fight for equality as they have in the past. Victoria Woodhull reminds me of the character Scout in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Scout’s decision not to conform to society’s expectations of the way women should act and dress, relate to Victoria Woodhull’s ambitions. Scout’s aunt is always pestering her with comments on her clothing and behavior, showing the impact that society’s rules have on women of all ages. While many of the issues that Victoria Claflin Woodhull had worked to improve are no longer present in today’s society, there is still a barrier between men and women. I am curious to know your reasoning behind choosing this historical figure, and your thoughts on the current events involving women.
ReplyDeleteWell said Aaliyah. I chose to cover Woodhull because I thought her story would be interesting to look at since her accomplishment of being the first women to run for president has gone virtually unnoticed, and I wanted to figure out why. What I can tell is that her ideas were so radical for the time that the people of the time didn't want to give her that much attention. I would say things are definitely much better now than in the 19th century, but there's still a lot to be done. I would start from the top where there are not many women that lead a good percentage of big companies or positions in government (just look at Trump's cabinet and there's very little women on his staff). You can also look at pop culture and see that there are very few female directors taking on the big movies and men who have very little experience are given more opportunities to direct the big-budget franchise films.
DeleteVictoria Claflin Woodhull is truly a revolutionary of her time because of her bravery and willingness to go against societal norms. She wants more power for women and she goes for it no matter the consequence. I was shocked that Hillary Clinton was not in fact the first women to run for president and had never heard of Woodhull previous to this article. The repercussions for Woodhull would've been much harsher then and certainly affected her life in many ways. Woodhull is remarkably similar to Curley's Wife from of Mice and Men. They are similar in the way that both do as they please despite the criticism of the men/society around them. They defy societies expectation of the idea that a woman's role is in the home instead of in politics or even outside their house. I would like to know what you think of Woodhull's actions and how much differently would Woodhull be received today?
ReplyDelete___From:Kristina Sitcawich
DeleteYou're definitely not the only one Kristina that was shocked that Clinton lost, but I would say that Woodhull might have received similar treatment Clinton got. What the election exposed was the portion of society and the media that will nitpick and try to find any angle to take down a female candidate. I definitely think Woodhull would be much better received today than in he time, and I can see her as an Elizabeth Warren-type, where she is championed as a pioneer for women's rights and fighting for the rights of many Americans. I was really impressed by her actions and was surprised to read that she made many enemies for not conforming to the type of activism that Susan B. Anthony and other suffragists where fighting for. I think that Woodhull's type of activism is something that we need more of. We should be going far and beyond for equal rights instead of praising small victories.
DeleteThis was a very surprising article. I did not know about Victoria Claflin Woodhull. I'm very glad that I do now because she stood up for women's rights in ways that no other woman had done before. Her bravery is shown by her persistence and ideas that were outside the normal ideas of the time. Her ideas seemed crazy to men and even other women. However, she stood for them and worked for equal rights, which pleased many activists. Although her ideas were outside the social standard, her ways of spreading them seemed bold and may have been effective had she not been so "radical." Her ideas definitely seemed radical compared to the milder views of women such as Susan B. Anthony, but she clearly would do anything to get those rights. I relate this to Antigone. Antigone's views were more radical than others, and her beliefs led to her being outcast from her home and killed. This is like how Victoria's views and actions led to her being put in jail. Their beliefs were both pretty radical and different. They were socially unacceptable at the time. Would the results of Victoria's running be different if she lived today and were the correct age? Why were her views so different from other people's views at the time?
ReplyDeleteNicely said Bethany. If she were running today and were the correct age, I still think the results would the same. Her "radical ideas" would be considered normal for today's standards, but I think her outspokenness would create many enemies in Congress, and I don't see too many politicians siding with a person that challenges the establishment on a high scale. To answer your other question, her ideas were influenced by her second husband Colonel James H. Blood. He introduced her to many reform movements that was the foundation to her views on women and women's rights.
DeleteThat is very interesting! I have to say that I think you may be correct. Outspoken people often are not popular whether it is among the people or other politicians. People who speak their minds about any ideas that others disagree with are often hated. I did not know much about her and now I do. Thanks you for introducing me to this persistent woman! This article was very interesting!
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ReplyDeleteVictoria Claflin Woodhull symbolizes bravery, she was audacious and refused to be subject to societal confinements and conditioning, and when it came to her beliefs and rights, she was obstinate. She was a revolutionary and progressive thinker, and she was pragmatic with her beliefs, which is highlighted in her decision to run for presidency during a time when women were not even permitted the basic right of voting. She was not intimidated or afraid to expose the hypocrisy of self righteous, paternalistic idealists, such as the Reverend. She lived in a world were gender was a major criterion for determining the worth and value of one's opinion, and women were the minority. She did not let that suppress her beliefs and muffle her voice, but it rather motivated her to speak out no matter the repercussion, and she was the change that she wanted to see. To my surprise, I have never been informed about her, which made me realize that the history curriculum needs to be modified, so we are enlightened about visionaries such as Claflin. She is reminiscent of the Greek character Antigone, in Sophocles' Theban plays. Antigone also lived in a society in which women were subject to men, however she defies that rule when she decides to bury her brother, which was against the royal decree of her uncle Creon. When confronted about her actions, she is unapologetic and stands behind her decision, even to her death. A political figure that also possess these attributes is Hillary Clinton, who became the first woman to emerge as the presidential nominees of a major party. Hillary Clinton also devoted her career fighting for women and children’s rights. My question is despite the amazing feat that Victoria Claflin accomplished, why are many unaware of this information?
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question Miracle, I think it goes with what you said in your post. The education curriculum needs a change. Not only Woodhull, but many other figures in American history are largely forgotten. There isn't a clear reason, but I can only assume that her ideas were so radical for the time that many people in power chose to forget about her and let her story be lost to time for future generations. It also seems like pop culture plays a role as well. "Hidden Figures" exposed a lot of people to the incredible story of women who helped out the NASA program in an important way.
DeleteI know as a society we often gloss over women in history, but I have never heard of Victoria Claflin Woodhull even in passing, which really does speak to our culture. That makes me kind of sad to think that even within the past election cycle, I never heard of her and probably wouldn't have without this assignment. It reminds me a bit of the story of Hidden Figures in that way. A woman's (or women's in the case of HF) achievements being completely overlooked by history. The fact that she ran for president when she wasn't even allowed to vote is ridiculous and nervy as anything. I understand why she alienated her fellow suffragists but I think she would be embraced with open arms by the modern feminist community now. I was wondering how you (the author, if you're reading this) found out about her. She cuts quite the figure here in modern times.
ReplyDeleteTrue on all fronts Emily. Not only are women's accomplishments overlooked, but there could be a case to be made that their accomplishments were intentionally hidden in order to keep up with societal norms. I had vaguely heard of Woohdhull but only very recently during the 2016 Election. You can read a snopes article (http://ow.ly/mh59309OpLb) and a politic article (http://ow.ly/ebFy309OpMm). That's where I first head about Woodhull and wny I decided to cover her.
DeleteIt's been a couple weeks now and I can still barely wrap my head around the fact that Woodhull ran for president without being able to vote herself. What a daring woman, on all fronts. There will always be a place for women in government and Woodhull seemed to carve that path. Those articles were very interesting and thank you for sharing them.
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