The Women's Suffrage amendment had been passed by Congress in 1919. Under the U.S. Constitution, it needed to be approved by 36 of the existing 48 state legislatures. Thirty five states had approved it by the spring of 1920. Tennessee's governor called a special session of the legislature in August to vote on the amendment. The Senate passed it, but it was uncertain it could pass the House of Representatives. When a vote was called, it was thought that the measure would receive a tied vote thus ending its consideration that year. Rep. Harry Burn from Niota, who voted with the anti-suffragists, had a letter in his pocket from his mother Phoebe "Febb" Burn asking him to vote to give women the right to vote. He changed his vote to yes and thereby gave women all over the U.S. the right to vote.
From Febb Burn's letter to her son, Harry Burn:
Dear Son:
Hurrah and vote suffrage!...Don’t forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the “rat” in ratification. Your Mother.
Contributor: PM Fox (47130382)
From Febb Burn's letter to her son, Harry Burn:
Dear Son:
Hurrah and vote suffrage!...Don’t forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the “rat” in ratification. Your Mother.
Contributor: PM Fox (47130382)
The Women's Suffrage amendment had been passed by Congress in 1919. Under the U.S. Constitution, it needed to be approved by 36 of the existing 48 state legislatures. Thirty five states had approved it by the spring of 1920. Tennessee's governor called a special session of the legislature in August to vote on the amendment. The Senate passed it, but it was uncertain it could pass the House of Representatives. When a vote was called, it was thought that the measure would receive a tied vote thus ending its consideration that year. Rep. Harry Burn from Niota, who voted with the anti-suffragists, had a letter in his pocket from his mother Phoebe "Febb" Burn asking him to vote to give women the right to vote. He changed his vote to yes and thereby gave women all over the U.S. the right to vote.
From Febb Burn's letter to her son, Harry Burn:
Dear Son:
Hurrah and vote suffrage!...Don’t forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the “rat” in ratification. Your Mother.
Contributor: PM Fox (47130382)
From Febb Burn's letter to her son, Harry Burn:
Dear Son:
Hurrah and vote suffrage!...Don’t forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the “rat” in ratification. Your Mother.
Contributor: PM Fox (47130382)
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