Suffrage marked an important moment in the progression of women’s participation in our democracy and civic life. Yet it was an imperfect victory, and one that stands neither as a beginning nor an end, but as an important milestone in the fight for equality, justice and representation. The 2019 National Youth Summit will look at woman suffrage as an example of how groups with limited political power have and continue to shape our democracy using strategies and tools, like the vote and public protest, to give voice to issues and galvanize fellow Americans into communal movements for change.

Join us as we explore the essential question: Are the tactics used by suffragists to fight for political power still effective?
REGISTER or FIND OUT MORE: Email Elizabeth Gunter, Director of Education and Programs, at Elizabeth@UpcountryHistory.org to register your student, class or club today!

Central Questions:

• What tactics did American suffragists employ? Why might these have been chosen?
• What did suffrage mean for American women? Was it more than getting the vote?
• How does expanding who holds power in a democracy shift its priorities?
• What can young people, and other groups with limited political power, learn from the actions of the suffragists?
• What actions will you take to share your voice and shape the future?

Regional Youth Summit Locations:

• Arab American National Museum; Dearborn, MI
• Cerritos Library; Cerritos, CA
• Conner Prairie; Fishers, IN
• The Durham Museum; Omaha, NE
• Heritage Farm Museum & Village; Huntington, WV
• History Colorado; Denver, CO
• International Storytelling Center; Jonesborough, TN
• Ohio History Connection; Columbus, OH
• Upcountry History Museum; Greenville, SC
• UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures; San Antonio, TX
• The Witte Museum; San Antonio, TX

About the National Youth Summit:

The National Youth Summit brings middle and high school students together with scholars, teachers, policy experts, and activists in a national conversation about important events in America’s past that have relevance to the nation’s present and future. The National Youth Summit is organized by the National Museum of American History.