Women in Government

Women in Government

Women in Government
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 6 to 7
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	6.17

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		reelection, policies, refusal, re-election, politician, refused, social, attorney, knowing, shortly, defeat, seamstress, death, term, general, vote
	content words:		United States, Hattie Wyatt Carraway, Thaddeus Carraway, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Federal Employees, Compensation Commission, As World War, World War I., World War II, Sandra Day O'Connor

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Women in Government
By Phyllis Naegeli

¹     Many years ago, women could not vote. They had no say in how the United States government was run. It took a long time before this changed. Women wanted to be a part of the government. After receiving the right to vote, women started to get involved. Some ran for office, and they won. Some of the first women to serve have amazing stories.

²     Hattie Wyatt Carraway was born in Tennessee in 1878. She married Thaddeus Carraway after graduating from college. For many years, she stayed at home caring for their family and farm, while Thaddeus became a politician. He was elected to the senate in 1912. After his sudden death in 1932, Hattie was appointed in his place. She went on to serve two additional terms as senator. After she was defeated for reelection in 1944, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt appointed her to serve on the Federal Employees' Compensation Commission. She retired after suffering a stroke. She died on December 21, 1950.

³     When Jeannette Rankin's father died, he left her financially stable. She used her money to search for a meaningful career. After working as a seamstress, teacher, and social worker, she found her place. She became involved in women's fight for the right to vote. Her political involvement had begun. As World War I approached, she became involved in the peace movement. She ran for the House of Representatives in Montana. She won, making her the first woman elected on her own to Congress. She fought hard for peace, social justice, and women's rights. She voted against joining in World War I. This led to her defeat when she ran for the Senate. Later, she returned to the House. This time she voted against joining in World War II. She did not run for re-election, knowing she would lose. She spent the rest of her life working for peace.

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