Celebrating Women's History Month

Outstanding Women Members of Congress:

Shirley Chisholm - That Disruptive Woman!

Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm achieved several firsts during her political career. On January 3, 1969, Shirley Chisholm made history as the first African-American woman elected to the United States Congress when she was sworn into the 91st Congress and took her seat in the House of Representatives. She was the first African-American woman to win a seat in the New York State Assembly from Brooklyn, and in 1972 she became the first African American to campaign seriously for the presidential nomination of a major political party.

Representative Shirley Chisholm made history by seriously campaigning for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1972. Her candidacy caused a split in the Congressional Black Caucus, especially among some of her male colleagues, one of whom referred to her as "that disruptive woman." At every step in her career, Chisholm faced similar opposition from men who thought her ambitions would be unattainable because she was a woman. Although her critics claimed Chisholm's candidacy diverted attention from "more important issues" she was serious about confronting the status quo.

Chisholm had a reputation as a fearless, ambitious and outspoken maverick. She studied the issues thoroughly and demonstrated utter confidence in her leadership ability. At the time, these qualities were typically only admired in men and would often cost her dearly for daring to display them as a woman. She was perhaps the quintessential feminist, a serious student of politics who did not hesitate to use her talents to serve others. Her voice is still heard at USCHS as one of our board members, Laura Murphy, worked for her on the Hill.

As a lawmaker, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm was completely devoted to serving her constituents. She was unafraid to assert herself on behalf of her principles and the well-being of the people of her district, especially the children. She believed that politics should be a tool to effect change and secure a better way of life for all Americans.

Recommended Readings:

Women's History

Trivia:

Women's History

Who was the first woman to run for President in the United States?

A. Margaret Chase Smith

B. Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood

C. Victoria Claflin Woodhull

D. Shirley Chisholm

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At any level, your donation ensures that the Society's programming can remain a fundamental source of learning for history lovers of all ages.

Teaching the Constitution Through Theater

Partnership Between StoryWorks and USCHS

In case you missed it:

Last week, USCHS partner, StoryWorks Theater, presented two virtual plays, Beautiful Agitators and Now’s The Time, for Civics Learning Week. Teaching the Constitution through Theater fosters a deeper understanding of the U.S. Constitution through inclusive and transformative educational experiences.

StoryWorks is committed to developing content related to civic engagement, justice, agency, equity, diversity, and constructive discourse. The plays developed through this program engage students in inquiry-based and experiential learning to inspire them to ask complex questions about the historical underpinnings behind contemporary issues. This approach gives students a more intimate and immersive experience as they witness the events unfold.

Beautiful Agitators

Beautiful Agitators, a theatrical play about Vera Mae Pigee, a hair stylist and business owner in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and one of the unsung heroes of the civil rights era.

Now’s The Time

Now’s The Time opens at the dawn of Reconstruction, the Civil War has just ended but the nation is plunged again into crisis with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. 

Access these plays and corresponding teacher materials for free through the Society's We the People Constitution Hub. The Hub is a public digital collection of curated Civics and History resources to help students and educators gain a deeper knowledge of their civic rights and responsibilities, as well as the history and practical implementation of the Constitution. Creating this resource for schools has allowed educators and students to access a vast collection of high-quality activities, videos, lesson plans, and primary sources that are too important not to make available for everyone.

Battle for the Speakership:

What 1923 Can Tell Us About 2023

Video Available!

After winning a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, the Republican Party sets its sights on passing key legislation to address the nation’s greatest social and economic issues. However, before they can, they must elect a Speaker. An historic series of votes fail day after day in a divided caucus until the establishment candidate provides enough concessions to win the gavel. The year is 1923 and Frederick H. Gillett is elected as Speaker of the House.

On Thursday, March 2 the U.S. Capitol Historical Society hosted an event featuring historians, Christopher McKnight Nichols and Maxine Wagenhoffer, who discussed this once-overlooked chapter of American History and explored the lessons the fractious politics of the 1920s can teach us about the fractious politics of our times.

Nichols is the Hayes Chair in National Security Studies at The Ohio State University and an expert on U.S. foreign relations and modern U.S. intellectual, political, and cultural history, from the Gilded Age and Progressive Era through the present. He is the author of Promise and Peril: America at the Dawn of a Global Age and the editor and author of Rethinking American Grand Strategy. His latest book, Ideology in U.S. Foreign Relations: New Histories, won the 2023 International Studies Association prize for best-edited book in historical international relations.

Wagenhoffer is a Ph.D. candidate in U.S. history at The Ohio State University, with expertise in women's history, cultural and political history, celebrity studies, and the history of the media. Her dissertation focuses on the intersections of gender, politics, and American celebrity culture through the lens of Alice Roosevelt Longworth.

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