Front Porch Radio - History's Hook

August 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which allowed women the right to vote. Tennessee played a pivotal role as it was the 36th and final state needed to make the 19th amendment the law of the land. Although Tennessee can make the claim of being the state that made this important change in American History happen, it belies the fact that Tennessee and the South was late in embracing the suffrage movement. In truth, it took decades of hard fighting by women across the nation to claim this most basic of rights. The suffrage movement is a case-study in grass-roots politics. Small towns across the state and nation organized local suffrage groups to help further the initiative. In the end, the 19th amendment did not, in fact, claim for all women the right to vote. For African-American women, many of whom contributed to the suffrage movement, it would take many more decades for them to secure the right to vote without stipulations. Today on History’s Hook, we’ll explore the history of woman suffrage in Tennessee. Join Tom Price, Jo Ann McClellan, Dr. Barry Gidcomb, and special guest Dr. Carol Bucy as they explore this important topic.

What is Front Porch Radio - History's Hook?

History’s Hook is a weekly audio-media series that uses local stories…stories found in everyone’s backyard…to explore national and world history. The show features experts and eye-witnesses to events that make those connections in history. The show’s host, Tom Price is a veteran historian who has spent nearly 30 years working in museums and archives finding those documents and objects that tell the stories of all of us. He has published numerous articles on U.S. History and has curated fifteen major exhibitions related to American History and culture.