Petition for Universal Suffrage which asks for an Amendment to the Constitution that Shall Prohibit the Several States from Disenfranchising Any of Their Citizens on the Ground of Sex

Petition for Universal Suffrage which Asks for an Amendment to the Constitution that Shall Prohibit the Several States from Disenfranchising Any of Their Citizens on the Ground of Sex

As noted in this universal suffrage petition, the Constitution considered women "free" and counted them as a whole person for representation reasons. However, women could not vote, had to pay taxes, and were punished for violating the law. They argued that while the Constitution was being amended to give emancipated slaves the right to vote, Congress should also extend the right to vote to women.