The fight for women’s suffrage began with Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucy Stone in the 1800s. The fight was fierce and nasty from the beginning. Women wanted to change the social norms. It seemed as though they wanted to change the world, and many people had problems with this determined goal.

During this period, people disregarded the reason for the determination and the need for women’s suffrage. Women wanted their independence; they wanted to control their destinies.

Anthony once wisely stated, “Independence is happiness.” Making choices for one’s self, standing up for one’s own beliefs and voicing one’s opinion without fear of repercussions – this is the independence Anthony advocated. She wanted this for herself and for every woman. Anthony brought awareness to her issue by speaking about it and campaigning for it. At one point, she was arrested for attempting to vote.

Stone, another suffragist, refused to pay taxes on a house she owned. “No taxation without representation,” she would say.

Stanton did it all: She married an abolitionist, refused to say the word “obey” during her wedding ceremony, had seven children, raised them and still managed to make a big impression on women’s suffrage with Anthony.

Despite all their work and sacrifice, all three women died before their dreams of independence came true.

The dream of independence, however, did not die. It stayed with the American women. A new generation was coming and it simply would not take “no” for an answer.

Alice Paul was one of these determined young ladies ready to do anything and sacrifice everything. Paul was a Quaker who spent time in Great Britain working with British suffragists.

Alice Paul is one of the women who forced America to change its position on women’s suffrage. She passionately believed that as human beings, women were entitled to the vote. Paul fought long and hard and ultimately won the battle.

She was arrested three times, went on starvation strikes during her prison sentences and fought for what she believed in despite the violent opposition.

We learn determination from these courageous women; we learn how to achieve our goals through the lives of these women. They fought for our rights, ladies. If it had not been for them – their dreams and their ambitions – our lives would be dramatically different.

Imagine life right now. If it had not been for these women, would we be sitting in our classes? Would our lives revolve around the goals of society, rather than our own? Would we have a voice, or would our fathers and husbands be speaking for us and simply telling us not to worry our pretty little heads about anything?

So, ladies, let’s honor the women who changed our lives for the better by voting this November. It doesn’t matter whom you vote for, just as long as you vote.

Women’s suffrage came after a great deal of suffering and sacrifice. Forgetting this and not voting would be a shame.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.