State Historical Society of Iowa

Anti-Suffrage Ad from The Iowa Homestead, May 25, 1916

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In this May 25, 1916 advertisement printed in The Iowa Homestead, the Iowa Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage argues that woman suffrage will directly lead to both higher taxes and the drowning out of the rural vote because of a doubled city vote.
Courtesy of State Historical Society of Iowa, 25 May 1916

Description

This advertisement, printed in The Iowa Homestead on May 25, 1916, was funded by the Iowa Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. The organization argues that women's suffrage would directly lead to both higher taxes and the drowning out of the rural vote because of a doubled city vote. The ad was published just over a week before the June 5,1916, vote held in Iowa to add a women's suffrage amendment to the Iowa constitution, which ultimately failed. 

Transcript of Anti-Suffrage Ad from The Iowa Homestead

Source-Dependent Questions

  • What are the two main arguments against women’s suffrage offered by the Iowa Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage in this newspaper advertisement?
  • Using evidence drawn from the source, explain the techniques/tactics/strategies used by the Iowa Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage to make its argument.
  • Do you find this argument convincing? Why or why not?