Anthony had fought for women's rights actively until her death. She was born in a family with long activist traditions, and this factor influenced the development of her leadership traits. In the early years, she developed a sense of moral values and justice. Her strong position as an activist and an acquaintance with Elizabeth Cady Stanton (American leading figure) helped her to join the women's rights movement (Gordon, 2008). As a result, Anthony decided to dedicate her life to the woman suffrage. Ignoring opposition, she traveled, delivered lectures, and advocated for abolishing slavery. It illustrates her strong will and persistence in pursuing set goals. Besides, the family of Anthony became active participants in the anti-slavery movement. In 1863, Stanton and Anthony arranged the Women's National Loyal League with the aim to support the Thirteenth Amendment concerning outlawing slavery. In her newspaper The Revolution, Anthony printed articles about the protection of enslaved people and equal rights of all American citizens. In 1853, at the state convection of teachers, she called for admitting women's professionalism and higher payments for women teachers' work. She fought against the drunkenness in families and the right of women to vote. Anthony was a marvelous leader. She raised hope for a better future, inspired women to fight against discrimination, and advocated for equality. Many of her campaigns were successful and had a positive result due to her leadership skills. Susan B. Anthony was an effective leader because she showed by personal example how to fight for human rights and reach the aim in spite of any obstacles. Her speeches touched hearts of women deeply and encouraged them to follow her. Her strong nature had never let her lose heart and helped to overcome all milestones.
Susan B. Anthony as An Active Leader in Different Spheres
Susan B. Anthony was an active leader in many spheres. She supported women in their fight for labor rights in New York, as they were excluded from men's trade unions, and encouraged them to organize workingwomen's associations. She had always proven her intentions by actions. In 1868, Anthony's newspaper published a petition for eight-hour workday and higher labor compensation. In two years, she became a president of the Workingwomen's Central Association and helped many women obtain education. She put great efforts for establishing a school for women printers and supported a strike for the legalization of women labor rights.
Anthony demonstrated her leadership skills during the campaign against drunkenness in families. She joined the Daughters of Temperance, a group of women, who considered that alcohol had a negative effect on family relations and upbringing of children. In 1849, she became a valid president of the Daughters of Temperance in Rochester and advocated for the legislation of the law concerning limiting the liquor's sale (Harper, 2005). However, the state legislature rejected her petition because it contained 28 000 women's and children's signatures. That situation made her elaborate a plan of further actions concerning the legalization of women's right to vote and make politicians listen to them. She founded the American Equal Rights Association and began advocating for women's suffrage. In 1892, Anthony became a president of the National American Suffrage Association (Bertling, 2008). Between 1881 and 1885, Anthony and Stanton published The History of Woman Suffrage. Her active campaign evoked thousands women because they were tired to have no say in any social and political matters. Their exhausting fight for the common aim had a positive result that changed the history.
Anthony's Leadership Success in Opposing Foes
As a great leader and activist, Anthony encountered multiple milestones during her fight for women's rights. Many foes wanted to stop her activity. However, she had always obstinately reached her aim. Although many opponents wanted to destroy her plans, it only made her stronger. The unfair opposition and pursuit of Anthony increased the number of her followers and made her leadership position much stronger. One of her opponents was historian Lee Nash, who considered that newspaper editors could not make remarkable changes in traditional sex roles. It was more normal for that time to accept a man as a combative, insensitive, uncompromised person, who was a leader and the main participant in all political and social changes. Many editors denounced declarations of Anthony. For example, Salem did not agree that men, as she considered, were unfaithful. He asserted that men carried civilization to its higher point, and women did not appreciate that (Sherr, 1996). In 1869, men's typographical union accused her in support of a strike for women's labor rights and called her an enemy of labor. Anthony met her foes everywhere, what complicated her life. However, a great desire to protect women's rights and a strong-willed character made her break the law in order to get her rights heard. In 1872, she was arrested for a short period of time because of violations during New York elections. Of course, such behavior was unacceptable for her as a leader because it could encourage women to follow her and repeat her negative actions.
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Analysis of Anthony's Effectiveness as a Leader
Susan B. Anthony was an effective activist in multiple spheres. Her first practice as a leader began when she was twenty-six years old, lasting until her death. All her life she had claimed that there were no differences between women and men and their minds. She effectively advocated for women's rights through delivering speeches and writing articles in her newspaper The Revolution. She was a very clever leader and definitely knew how to make people listen and trust her. She used direct communication with people from different cities and towns. Anthony addressed the audience in public forums and provided people with citations from relevant laws. She had always proven her words by actions, what made people trust and follow her. People supported Anthony because they saw her commitment. In spite of many obstacles, she obstinately reached the aim. During her travel through Portland, she delivered 60 speeches and was very exhausted but she did not stop (Finnegan, 1999). Her activity inspired women and made them believe that men and women would have equal rights. She gave women an opportunity to express their opinion through public speaking and petitions. Anthony's strong nature encouraged women greatly because she continued to fight for women's rights in spite of her opponents. Anthony had a brilliant political mind, profound commitment to challenging work, and a marvelous ability to organize people to fight until the final victory. Anthony encouraged many women to fight for equal rights, what led to the end of discrimination. During her work as an activist, she wrote a history and edited four of the six volumes of The History of Woman Suffrage. In 1920, women got the right to vote pursuant to the Nineteenth Amendment that was also known like the amendment of Susan B. Anthony.
Discussion of Leadership Traits and Style of Anthony
Susan Anthony employed two leadership styles. The first style was people-oriented leadership based on supporting people of a definite group in reaching a goal. People-oriented leaders can reach high group productivity and satisfaction (DuBrin, 2012). The studies of the University of Michigan show that leaders who are greatly concerned about people are the best. Anthony was definitely a people-oriented leader because she fought for the rights and wellness of women. She wanted to set them free from discrimination and slavery, and campaigned for the women's right to vote. She constantly supported women in their problems and put all efforts to make their voices heard. Susan Anthony also employed the transformational leadership style. A transformational leader stimulates and inspires followers to achieve goals. Susan was a transformational leader because she gave women hope for ending discrimination. The leader gave women faith that hard work could grant them suffrage, and it was finally achieved. She listened to everybody, tried to communicate with every woman and made them sure that all of them had been heard.
Her main trait like a leader was extreme positivity and confidence. She strongly believed that the main aim would be achieved. Her faith in a positive result led her directly to the success and helped to overcome all obstacles. In 1877, Anthony gathered petitions from 27 states with 10000 signatures, but was criticized by the Congress. However, that fact did not break her and only encouraged for further actions. She appeared before the Congress from 1869 to 1906 and asked for a suffrage amendment (Sherr, 1995). The right of women to vote was legalized after Anthony's death. Anthony's strong will encouraged many women, because she had never given up. She traveled with speeches without time for rest, sleep, and normal living conditions. Nevertheless, the result was worth her while.
Conclusion
A strong character and confidence of Susan B. Anthony helped her achieve dreams of many women, who fought for their rights. She strongly believed that no man in the world was good enough to govern any women without her consent. She considered that delight in independence was great, and any woman should not depend on men's protection and must know how to protect herself without the help of a man. Anthony devoted her whole life to work, wanted to make women happy and forgot about personal female happiness. She had never been married. In spite of multiple foes, she reached her aim and became an outstanding person, who changed the history. She believed in success and had always said that a failure was impossible (Anderson, 2009). Anthony's support of women's rights and her rejection of women's discrimination were expressed even through her appearance. Anthony sustained a dress reform for women. She cut hair and wore a bloomer costume. It shows that she was not afraid of braving public opinion. The leader advocated for women's property rights in the New York State. As a result the law was adopted, what allowed married women to have custody of their children and own property. Anthony and Stanton stood out for a more liberal divorce law. In 1875, she argued the “social evil” of prostitution in Chicago. She advocated for equity in working places, marriage, and voting. Anthony had a keen mind, and many women followed her. She was not only a skillful leader, who had reached great positive results, but also a person who had changed the history and made women be proud of their social status.