American History: A Fresh Look

United States History

A New Look

Have you ever wondered about the actual events of history? What it must have felt like living it? Or, have you ever wondered what if? Perhaps American History is not exactly like we assumed.

Through Storytelling, Short Stories, and Histo-fiction, these creative authors unravel events and individuals throughout American History. Our past is unique, good and bad, but it is definitely not boring!

There is something for every reader, including different reading levels. Let your minds wander and explore the possibilities of American History.

Table of Contents

Page #

A Long Way to Women's Suffrage by Esmeralda Solis

The Battle for Land by Janice Gutierrez

Girl Power by Britney Montalvo

Lets Get This Par-Tea Started by Angel Macedo

A Twist: Native Americans Invade by Destiny Duenas

What If The 4th Plane Actually Hit Its Target by Roberto Soto

Twins Fell Down by Cesar Solis & Cassandra Barraza

The Adventures of Princess Liliiam & Prince Cael: The Space Race by Jenny Carrillo & Areli Cuellar

War At First Sight by Angel Cabrera

The Truth Behind Christopher Columbus by Vanessa Del Toro

4

17

26

38

49

57

66

77

86

95

5-6th Grade

4-6th Grade

2-4th Grade

4-5th Grade

4-5th Grade

6th Grade

2-3rd Grade

2-4th Grade

4-5th Grade

4-6th Grade

Suggested Reading Levels

A Long Way to Women's Suffrage

By: Esmeralda Solis

A LONG WAY TO WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

PAGE 1

About 175 years ago, the United States started suffragism, one of the most important social and political movements in the history of mankind. From the Declaration of Sentiments (1848) to the introduction of the Nineteenth Amendment in the U.S. Constitution (1920), an intense worldwide struggle for the political rights of women that took place until women's votes were obtained.

A LONG WAY TO WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

PAGE 2

Women were generally considered intellectually inferior and unable to think for themselves. For that reason, it seemed evident that they should not claim to have the same civil rights as men. They claimed that political affairs, in particular, were beyond the reach of the female spirit, and therefore it was unthinkable to pretend that women could vote. Its origins go back to the old regime where legally subordinate to their father or husband. Until the Declaration of Sentiments that emerged from the Seneca Falls Convention in New York in July 1848, the first convention on the rights of women demanding equal rights in different fields such as marriage, salaries, property, and custody of children. The first suffragettes that supported the cause were Sarah and Angelina Grimké, Sojourner Truth, Amelia Bloomer, and others.

The Grimké Sisters
Sarah Grimké (right) and Angelina Grimké (left)

Sojourner Truth

A LONG WAY TO WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

PAGE 3

The suffrage movement was born primarily headed by bourgeoisie women such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The women of the bourgeoisie began to organize themselves around the struggle for the recognition of the right to suffrage. Suffragettes not only fought for the political rights of women, but also for equality in other aspects and fields. They gave priority to the fight for the vote because they considered that, once achieved, they could change the laws and institutions.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony

A LONG WAY TO WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

PAGE 4

The movement for women's suffrage was a social reform movement of character organization that defended women's right to vote. Both men and women participated in this movement with the same objective to have equality between both sexes.

However, suffragism was faced with fierce opposition in which the arguments were based on gender discrimination. Not only men were opposed, but many women were also convinced that questioning the female prototype gave rise to uncertainties about the future.

A LONG WAY TO WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

PAGE 5

All this change started during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century when American feminists such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Carrie Chapman Catt, and Lucy Stone initiated an active campaign for the suffrage using marches, speakers on the streets, petitions, and rallies, whose objectives were, the incorporation of women into work, the right to vote, and an improvement in education.

A LONG WAY TO WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

PAGE 6

They defended the right to women's vote but there were expectations, in many states women were allowed to vote in municipal elections and school boards. From this association, they directed all their efforts to obtain the vote of the diverse states and to force a change in the American Constitution.

had full voting rights before the 19th Amendment

had full voting rights before the 19th Amendment and before statehood

could vote for president before the 19th Amendment

gaining voting rights with passage of the 19th Amendment