Woman suffrage

Carrie S. Burnham tried to vote in the state of Pennsylvania in 1871. This pamphlet concerns her arguments before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania about why she was entitled to vote. In addition to Burnham's argument, it also contains the opinion of Justice Sharswood and a brief history of the laws of Pennsylvania regarding women. The case revolved around the use of the word "freemen," which, Burnham argued, applied to her; the court disagreed. Further, Sharswood argued that citizenship did not entitle one to the franchise; so, although women were citizens, their condition of citizenship did not automatically entitle them to vote.