One hundred and fifty years ago today, American women turned out to vote in the presidential election, exercising their right to have a say in their government by choosing either Democratic candidate Horace Greeley or Republican incumbent Ulysses S. Grant.
I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR! Nancy Pelosi is the embodiment of what Abigail Adams represented in the 18th century. Joan of Arc, Golda Meir, Mother Teresa, Heather Cox Richardson. Today American women represent more than half of college students and law school students.
The men have been making a muck of America. It’s past time for the women to take the helm of our ship of state.
Professor! You’re early 👏🏻. Next week is sure to be a 💩 storm of news. Please take a day or two with your handsome husband. Thank you for your letters, written so faithfully.
HCR - my favorite type of your Letters! When you write about a historical event, period or person almost entirely from your impressive body of knowledge! (Very few citations of resources in your Notes) Thank you for teaching us something and making interesting and relevant connections to important issues facing the American people today. You are a rare and valued storyteller and source of history.
“...those of us who have not been cut out of the right to vote by one or another of the measures...” Such a sad and stressful place to find ourselves. My mom - 91 - just keeps saying, “I never thought I’d see it happen here.” Let’s hope the turnout is nothing short of a tidal wave. Holding my breath starting... now.
It was not just the southern states that restricting voting to US citizens. Until 1960 in NY State, one had to go to the police station every year to register to vote. Plus one had to prove an eighth grade education, oral and verbal proficiency in English. These laws were designed not just to prevent African Americans from voting but Jewish, Caribbean, southern and Eastern Europeans as well as Chinese immigrants/new citizens from voting. The NY State League of Women Voters, mobilized to overturn these restrictions. My mother was one of the people leading that campaign. The New Yorker magazine profiled her work.
Southern White 'Conservatives' (SWC) have made progress in their antidemocratic pursuits. They now seek to suppress the votes not just of Blacks, all minorities and women...but ALL people who don't vote for their SWC candidates. Their sense of entitlement has consistently undermined this country since inception.
The inevitable arc of justice intersects and conflicts with the evil, seemingly interminable, arc of injustice and prejudice, now and again, as we face the corrupted party of President Abraham Lincoln, the newly darkened Republican Party, tonight and tomorrow and the day after... until we, we the people, vote and vote and vote till we drop... and return our blessed democracy to the inevitable task of righteousness, justice and decency once and for all Americans.. we end The Big Lie and charge those responsible for our present crisis and treat one and all as the criminals they are.
No one is above the law, the constitution rules us all, and our judicial system must deal properly and effectively with the criminal element in all parts of our government and society, without delay and without prejudice. To ignore the criminality of a former president is to encourage the next misfit to hold office.
To wit, Republican Richard M. Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew were criminal. They were not handled properly. All knew this.
Let’s handle this bunch properly. Let’s end actions of the Party of insurrection with appropriate charges from DOJ, Party wide.
I have never in my life phone banked or canvassed, or done anything other than donate to a campaign. This weekend I am getting on a bus with Swing Left to knock doors in WI and IL-17 because I cannot imagine doing anything else with my free time. There is just too much at stake in this election. We just finished our WI canvass today for Evers & Barnes. The bus was packed. People are fired up to vote MAGA out!
The original Constitution never used the word "male"?! That is certainly news to me! And then the word was inserted into the Fourteenth Amendment giving former slaves the right to vote (if they could pass a hundred different hurdles) -- but STILL not women! Mind-blowing.
The states’ rights malarkey is a mess--& is the next major push that must be made to voters by DEMS. It will result in the stripping of rights unimaginable. Thus, we need to focus on “(OR) THE PEOPLE” in lieu of the many corrupt (R) legislators who will strip them. Ballot measures! In every state, we must have ballot measures that get The People out to vote for popular measures to protect their rights & turn back this shady states’ rights/legislators scam!
I’ve been on an emotional see-saw since November 3, 2020, worrying about the outcomes of our elections. More recently, despite the election of Joe Biden and the work of the January 6th committee to document the actions of Trump, the perpetrators of the failed coup and Trump’s continued stonewalling have caused my fears to become more tangible and less theoretical. I have done what I can (financially and otherwise) to support rational, intelligent candidates in House and Senate races across the country. My mail-in ballot has been received by the county clerk. At this point, all I can do is wait out the next few days. I must trust that the Court’s reversal of Roe v Wade has mobilized folks to vote Blue and that a new Silent Majority of people fed up with the mendacity and hypocrisy of the GOP/MAGA will rise up and make their voices heard loudly and clearly come Tuesday.
I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR! Nancy Pelosi is the embodiment of what Abigail Adams represented in the 18th century. Joan of Arc, Golda Meir, Mother Teresa, Heather Cox Richardson. Today American women represent more than half of college students and law school students.
The men have been making a muck of America. It’s past time for the women to take the helm of our ship of state.
Professor! You’re early 👏🏻. Next week is sure to be a 💩 storm of news. Please take a day or two with your handsome husband. Thank you for your letters, written so faithfully.
HCR - my favorite type of your Letters! When you write about a historical event, period or person almost entirely from your impressive body of knowledge! (Very few citations of resources in your Notes) Thank you for teaching us something and making interesting and relevant connections to important issues facing the American people today. You are a rare and valued storyteller and source of history.
“...those of us who have not been cut out of the right to vote by one or another of the measures...” Such a sad and stressful place to find ourselves. My mom - 91 - just keeps saying, “I never thought I’d see it happen here.” Let’s hope the turnout is nothing short of a tidal wave. Holding my breath starting... now.
Around and around it goes. The scumbags never give up, do they?
Another excellent letter and history lesson; thank you once again, Heather.
I wonder, as the current Supreme Court continues to re-interpret the 14th amendment, if certain citizens could once again lose the right to vote.
It was not just the southern states that restricting voting to US citizens. Until 1960 in NY State, one had to go to the police station every year to register to vote. Plus one had to prove an eighth grade education, oral and verbal proficiency in English. These laws were designed not just to prevent African Americans from voting but Jewish, Caribbean, southern and Eastern Europeans as well as Chinese immigrants/new citizens from voting. The NY State League of Women Voters, mobilized to overturn these restrictions. My mother was one of the people leading that campaign. The New Yorker magazine profiled her work.
Southern White 'Conservatives' (SWC) have made progress in their antidemocratic pursuits. They now seek to suppress the votes not just of Blacks, all minorities and women...but ALL people who don't vote for their SWC candidates. Their sense of entitlement has consistently undermined this country since inception.
The inevitable arc of justice intersects and conflicts with the evil, seemingly interminable, arc of injustice and prejudice, now and again, as we face the corrupted party of President Abraham Lincoln, the newly darkened Republican Party, tonight and tomorrow and the day after... until we, we the people, vote and vote and vote till we drop... and return our blessed democracy to the inevitable task of righteousness, justice and decency once and for all Americans.. we end The Big Lie and charge those responsible for our present crisis and treat one and all as the criminals they are.
No one is above the law, the constitution rules us all, and our judicial system must deal properly and effectively with the criminal element in all parts of our government and society, without delay and without prejudice. To ignore the criminality of a former president is to encourage the next misfit to hold office.
To wit, Republican Richard M. Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew were criminal. They were not handled properly. All knew this.
Let’s handle this bunch properly. Let’s end actions of the Party of insurrection with appropriate charges from DOJ, Party wide.
A republic if we can keep it.
Dress rehearsal is over. Let’s roll.
As a 74 year old white man, with all the accoutrements given, this makes me so sad. We need women in power!
Unfortunately, the suffragists left the Black women to march in the back and it wasn't until 1965 that Black women could vote
I have never in my life phone banked or canvassed, or done anything other than donate to a campaign. This weekend I am getting on a bus with Swing Left to knock doors in WI and IL-17 because I cannot imagine doing anything else with my free time. There is just too much at stake in this election. We just finished our WI canvass today for Evers & Barnes. The bus was packed. People are fired up to vote MAGA out!
The original Constitution never used the word "male"?! That is certainly news to me! And then the word was inserted into the Fourteenth Amendment giving former slaves the right to vote (if they could pass a hundred different hurdles) -- but STILL not women! Mind-blowing.
The states’ rights malarkey is a mess--& is the next major push that must be made to voters by DEMS. It will result in the stripping of rights unimaginable. Thus, we need to focus on “(OR) THE PEOPLE” in lieu of the many corrupt (R) legislators who will strip them. Ballot measures! In every state, we must have ballot measures that get The People out to vote for popular measures to protect their rights & turn back this shady states’ rights/legislators scam!
Wow!
We are all so fortunate to have you here with the DEEP history on the USA’s history.
I consider myself reasonably informed, etc. but truly at the end of my day, I come here to drink from the water in your well of knowledge.
Thank you for being a voice of truth, of history, and all the late hours you put in!!!
Wherever it all ends up, we have a beacon of light within your writing. 🙏🙏❤️❤️
I’ve been on an emotional see-saw since November 3, 2020, worrying about the outcomes of our elections. More recently, despite the election of Joe Biden and the work of the January 6th committee to document the actions of Trump, the perpetrators of the failed coup and Trump’s continued stonewalling have caused my fears to become more tangible and less theoretical. I have done what I can (financially and otherwise) to support rational, intelligent candidates in House and Senate races across the country. My mail-in ballot has been received by the county clerk. At this point, all I can do is wait out the next few days. I must trust that the Court’s reversal of Roe v Wade has mobilized folks to vote Blue and that a new Silent Majority of people fed up with the mendacity and hypocrisy of the GOP/MAGA will rise up and make their voices heard loudly and clearly come Tuesday.