Who was Susan B Anthony, American social reformer pardoned by US President Donald Trump?

Team Udayavani, Aug 20, 2020, 11:01 AM IST

President Donald Trump announced he would pardon women suffrage movement activist Susan B Anthony who was arrested for voting in 1872.

Susan Anthony was an American social reformer whose efforts ultimately led to the passing of the 19th Constitutional Amendment in 1920  which some also refer to as the Susan B Anthony Amendment. At the age of 52, she was arrested for voting in the 1872 elections held in Rochester, New York, in violation of laws permitting only men to vote.

Susan B Anthony

According to Women history, Susan B. Anthony was born on February 15, 1820 in Adams, Massachusetts. Her father, Daniel, was a farmer and later a cotton mill owner and manager and was raised as a Quaker. Her mother, Lucy, came from a family that fought in the American Revolution and served in the Massachusetts state government.

From an early age, Anthony was inspired by the Quaker belief that everyone was equal under God

She was a pioneer crusader for the women’s suffrage movement in the United States and was president (1892–1900) of the National Woman Suffrage Association.

Susan decided to cast her vote in the presidential election of 1872 at Rochester in New York state, defying laws that only permitted men to vote. After she voted, Anthony was arrested and convicted

She continued to campaign for women’s suffrage across the US and in 1906, 14 years before the 19th Amendment was passed, Anthony  passed away. In 1979, Anthony became the first woman to be depicted on a US Dollar coin.

However, in an attempt to win the support of women voters in upcoming elections, Donald Trump announced he would pardon Susan B Anthony