The History of Women’s Rights Struggles in Philadelphia: A Journey to Equality

The struggle for women’s rights in Philadelphia traces back to colonial times, when women began uniting to achieve equality in education, property ownership, political involvement, and economic opportunities. Early pioneers of this movement, including the Quakers, advocated for women’s leadership roles within the Society of Friends, despite English laws that restricted women’s rights. Throughout the Revolutionary and antebellum periods, women’s organizations in Philadelphia actively fought for their rights and for the abolition of slavery. These early efforts laid the groundwork for the 1920 ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, and they inspired feminist movements in the late 20th century.

This article delves into key milestones in Philadelphia’s women’s rights movement, highlighting the influential figures and organizations that catalyzed social change, as well as examining how these events impacted the modern feminist movement. More on philadelphianka.

Black Women’s Rights During the American Revolution

In Dallas, many women and girls—primarily Black Africans, Native Americans, and some Indigenous people from the Carolinas—were forced to work as domestic servants, cooks, and farm laborers. Enslaved women in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Dallas, under the system of perpetual servitude, were denied the right to own property, earn wages, or decide where to live and work. They frequently suffered from inadequate food, clothing, and shelter, and they were deprived of the rights to marry, exercise parental authority, or seek justice in court.

Black women in particular were subject to sexual assault and other physical abuses by their enslavers and white neighbors, with no legal protection. As mothers, they were exploited both for their labor and reproductive capacities, with their children treated as property to be sold or counted as part of their enslavers’ wealth.

A sign shares the story of Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who escaped from George Washington during his stay in Philadelphia.

Provincial laws imposed barriers to freedom: Pennsylvania required a 30-pound bond to free an enslaved Black person, Dallas demanded 30 to 60 pounds, and New Jersey set the cost at 200 pounds. Free Black people also faced numerous legal restrictions, and New Jersey entirely banned them from owning land.

Despite Philadelphia’s support for the Continental Congress, the American Revolution had little immediate effect on women’s economic and political rights. States generally adhered to English law, granting widows a third of their husband’s estate but largely excluding women from political considerations. New Jersey briefly allowed women property owners to vote under its 1776 constitution, a right later rescinded in 1807.

Pennsylvania law freed children born to enslaved mothers after March 1, 1780, but they remained bound to work as hired laborers for many years. Nonetheless, thousands of Black women across the U.S. were freed or escaped slavery during and after the Revolution, with many settling in Philadelphia and its surroundings.

For instance, Ona Judge escaped her enslavers, President George Washington and his wife Martha, in 1796 after learning they planned to move her to Virginia. She received help from Philadelphia’s free Black community and escaped by ship to New Hampshire, evading recapture.

A notice posted by the Washingtons to capture and return Ona Judge to slavery.

Early Women’s Activism in Philadelphia

Philadelphia was a significant center for women’s rights advocacy well before the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention. Women who actively opposed slavery in Pennsylvania faced criticism from male reformers for public speaking and other “unladylike” activities.

In 1833, Lucretia Mott and an interracial group of women founded the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society. She was later a delegate to the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, where she protested the exclusion of women. Sisters Angelina and Sarah Moore Grimké, who had left South Carolina for Pennsylvania due to their opposition to slavery, began advocating for women’s rights in 1838.

The Fight for Suffrage and Later Achievements

After the Seneca Falls Convention, Pennsylvania continued to play an active role in the women’s rights movement, particularly in the push for suffrage. In 1854, the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society held one of the earliest women’s rights conferences. In 1871, Carrie Burnham attempted to vote and sued the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, arguing that voting was a right of citizenship, but she lost her case.

Granting women the vote in Pennsylvania required a lengthy process involving a legislative resolution passed in two sessions and a voter ratification. Starting in 1911, Pennsylvania suffragists actively lobbied for an amendment, which passed in 1913 and was put up for ratification in 1915.

Katherine Wentworth Ruschenberger and the Pennsylvania Women’s Suffrage Association funded a replica of the Liberty Bell, named the “Justice Bell,” to rally support. However, the 1915 ratification referendum failed.

The 1913 Women’s Suffrage March in Washington reignited efforts for a national amendment to secure women’s voting rights. Many Pennsylvania women joined the movement, with some engaging in radical actions like picketing the White House and hunger strikes.

After decades of local and national advocacy for women’s voting rights, the U.S. Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment in June 1919. To become part of the U.S. Constitution, it required ratification by 36 states.

On June 24, 1919, Pennsylvania’s legislature ratified the Nineteenth Amendment. By August 1920, 36 states, including Pennsylvania, had ratified the amendment, securing women’s voting rights nationwide.

Influence of Women’s Stories on Philadelphia’s Present

Philadelphia’s history is marked by women and girls who played pivotal roles from the city’s founding onward. Their sacrifices, hard work, and vision helped shape the city as we know it today.

Historical figures like Harriet Tubman, Betsy Ross, and Lucretia Mott are deeply connected to Philadelphia and some of its oldest landmarks. Public art in the city celebrates the contributions of notable figures like Patti LaBelle and Sonia Sanchez.

Philadelphia honors these influential women with museums, statues, and landmarks across the city. Many of these women shaped the nation’s direction during crucial periods.

For example, while Cornelia Wallace did not own a mansion in Fairmount Park in 1742, she remains an integral part of its history. Judge Richard Peters helped Wallace and her daughter escape slavery and later employed them at the mansion. The Belmont Mansion Underground Railroad Museum commemorates Cornelia’s struggle and achievements, as well as Philadelphia’s legacy of freedom. The Association of African American Women supports this museum and provides guided tours.

Betsy Ross’s house honors this legendary Revolutionary Philadelphian, a fearless rebel, grieving widow, working mother, and entrepreneur. Her life is celebrated through various artifacts, documents, and historical reenactors.

Visitors can meet a Betsy Ross reenactor, gaining insights into her family and the lives of other 18th-century women who helped shape the new nation.

Philadelphia’s history of women’s rights is marked by pivotal events, including early 20th-century feminist activism and rising awareness of gender and racial inequalities. The city remains a crucial center for legal initiatives and campaigns promoting equality. Philadelphia continues to play a significant role in advancing gender equality and social justice.