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Aggie Green

Ms. Vernon

English 3 AP 7th

12 September 2018

Speaking at the National Woman Suffrage Association on July 22, 1905, Florence

Kelley, United States social worker, encourages men to give women the right to vote, with the

purpose of ending child labor, following the improvement of working conditions for women and

children.

Stimulating men to grant the enfranchisement of women is the first step in the

termination of child labor. In the beginning of the speech, Kelley addresses how young girls are

working textile mills all throughout the night “while we sleep,” to kindle remorse from the

women. By providing the gory details of working in the dangerous factories at night, she

emphasizes how it isn’t ethical for the children to be working at such a young age, the women

should be. “We can enlist the workingmen on behalf of our franchisement just in proportion as

we strive with them to free the children.” By having the right to vote, women would have the

ability to end child labor and prevent harm to the children.

After being granted enfranchisement, Kelley influences women to feel entitled to take

responsibility to end child labor. “-we shall none of us be able to free our consciences from

participation in this great evil.” Creates emotional appeal to encourage women to fight for wht is

right. “Not wholly powerless, however, are citizens who enjoy the right of petition.” Puts the

emotion of courage and power to take advantage of the enfranchisement and do all in women’s

power to end child labor.

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The final step is to improve the working conditions for all women and children to prevent

harm and illness. “-in the deafening noise of the spindles and the looms spinning” represents

what the children work through and how unlawful it is for women, especially children, to be

working in such conditions. By ending child labor, women and men will be the ones working day

and night and need safe, adequate environments to work in to prosper. Her use of emotional and

logical appeal towards the audience created provided enough encouragement to end child labor

and grant enfranchisement of women.