Votes For Women: Suffragette Badges

On August 18, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment became part of the U.S. Constitution. It declares: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

Controversy and Division 

The movement that would create this amendment had its roots 80 years earlier. In the 1840s, the American women's rights movement began and the first women's rights convention was held in Seneca Falls in 1848. The most controversial resolution of the convention was that supporting women's suffrage. In the end, only 1/3 of the attendees signed the resolution supporting women's suffrage, in spite of the fact that people such as Frederick Douglas argued in favor of it. But as time went on, the issue became a solid plank of the women's rights movement. Two national women's suffrage organizations were eventually established in 1869. One was led by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the other by Lucy Stone. There was violent rivalry between the groups for decades.

Unity and Militancy

Eventually in 1890 the two groups joined forces under the leadership of Susan B. Anthony.

For many years, the women's suffrage movement worked through the political and court systems. But progress was slow. In 1916 the National Woman's Party was formed, a militant group that engaged in picketing, chaining themselves to the White House fence, and hunger strikes to gain attention for their cause. These methods proved effective, and the Nineteenth Amendment was passed just four years later, in 1920.

American Women's Suffragette Badges. NWHM.

Suffragette Badges

The British militant group, the Women's Social and Political Union, formed in 1908. One of the actions of the WSPU was to have a permanent affect on women's jewelry and accessories: They purposely chose a noticeable, attractive color scheme for the women's suffrage cause.

A brilliant tricolor theme was chosen for the WSPU activities. Mrs. Pethick-Lawrence, co-editor of the weekly newspaper Votes for Women, wrote in 1908:

Rosette belt. Museum of London.

Purple as everyone knows is the royal colour. It stands for the royal blood that flows in the veins of every suffragette, the instinct of freedom and dignity…white stands for purity in private and public life…green is the colour of hope and the emblem of spring.

The colours enable us to make that appeal to the eye which is so irresistible. The result of our processions is that this movement becomes identified in the mind of the onlooker with colour, gay sound, movement, and beauty.

American and British suffragette badges shared the penchant for purple, but where British ladies paired it with green, American ladies added brilliant yellow. Both color schemes fulfilled their purpose: they were noticeable!

Suffragette Cockades

Many suffragette badges were simply metal lapel pins, but some were beautiful ribbon badges. I offer both American and British suffragette badges in my shop.

Presidential Campaign Cockades

Today is Presidents Day, and in just a few days, my state will be holding a primary to choose a presidential candidate for 2016. In honor of all this presidential hoopla, here are some awesome campaign cockades to drool over from past American presidents!

Teddy Roosevelt

It's tough to put Teddy Roosevelt's life - or even his presidency - into a paragraph. Roosevelt was an amazing, larger-than-life American hero. A sickly child, he took his father's advice to "make his body" into a tough-as-leather naturalist and sportsman. But his interests became far more wide and varied than that.

While still in college, he wrote a definitive history of the War of 1812. Other accomplishments include running a ranch in North Dakota, cleaning up corruption in both the NY City police and the US Civil Service Commission, serving as assistant Secretary of the Navy and Vice President to President William McKinley.

He formed the "Rough Riders" during the Spanish American war and led them in a glorious charge up San Juan hill. He is distinguished in being one of the four presidents on Mount Rushmore.

After McKinley's assassination, he finished the term as President and was reelected for his own term in 1904. That's the campaign this cockade is from.

Jimmy Carter

I bet you didn't know that campaign cockades were still being used in the 1970s! This one is from Jimmy Carter's campaign in 1977.

Carter had served as both Senator and Governor from Georgia before his presidential run. His single-term presidency was plagued with issues like economic recession, the Cold War, an energy crisis and the Iran hostage crisis.

People who admire Carter's legacy generally point to his social work around the world after his presidency. President Carter is still alive and reportedly in good health at the age of 91. And his campaign cockade looks like it's in good shape too!

U.S. Grant

Nearly everyone is familiar with Ulysses S. Grant's role as general in the Civil War. Not as many people know much about other facets of Grant's life.

That's probably just as well, as Grant wasn't nearly as good at the rest of life as he was at being a general! Grant's military valor was unquestioned, both in the Mexican American War and the Civil War. But he apparently had no head for business and failed repeatedly in professional ventures.

He also struggled with the role of President, being dogged by charges of mismanagement and corruption. A national recession didn't help his reputation either. This is one of his campaign cockades.

Altogether, Grant led a difficult life, but his rank in American history is undisputed - for his generalship, not his presidency!

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln, one of the four presidents on Mount Rushmore, had a major impact on American history. Love him or hate him, he oversaw a tremendous shift in American government and politics.

Born on the frontier and largely self-educated, Lincoln went on to have a career in law and later, politics. He helped to create the Republican Party, and was the first candidate from that party to win the presidency.

Lincoln's two terms as president spanned the entire Civil War. Just days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, Lincoln was assassinated. His funeral provoked a huge outpouring of mourning in the Northern states. Because of his historical importance, many people saved their Lincoln campaign and mourning badges. This gorgeous piece is one of them.

Richard Nixon

I received a fun Christmas gift this year - cockades from Richard Nixon's 1960 campaign!

Many people immediately think of the Watergate scandal in connection with Nixon. But there's a lot more to his career than that. In addition to serving as a representative, senator and vice president, he also served a meritorious career in the Naval Reserve during World War II.

His presidency oversaw the end of the Vietnam War, opening of relations with China and warming relations with the Soviet Union. On the domestic front he was plagued with economic problems and shortages, but also dealt with desegregation of public schools and the first landing on the moon in Apollo 11. The Watergate scandal brought an untimely end to his second term of presidency.

Ronald Reagan

Another cockade from modern times! This striking beauty is from Reagan's first inauguration in 1981.

Reagan's career, like many presidents before him, include much besides politics. In addition to roles as radio announcer and movie actor, he also served in the Officers Reserve Corps during World War II. Reagan served two terms as California's governor before being elected as president in 1980. Reagan is one of only two presidents to be wounded in, and survive, an assassination attempt (Teddy Roosevelt was the other).

Introducing a series of economic reforms that became named after him, Reagan saw an improvement over the troubled economies of the 60s and 70s. His policies with the Soviet Union also led the end of the Cold War. Many Republicans today still refer to him as one of the best spokesman for Republican ideals.

George Washington

So let's wind up with the man in whose honor this day was started - George Washington, the Father of the Country. This cockade was created with the black and white color scheme that Washington himself wore during the Revolutionary War.

Much has been said about Washington in the 200+ years since his death. Interestingly, a look at his military and political careers show dogged determination but not particular brilliance. Unlike other Founders, he didn't contribute amazing inventions, spectacular generalship, great works of philosophy or definitive books on history. At first glance, it seems that his claim to fame is merely in being "first."

Until you look closer and realize why he was first - and what that meant for our country and for democratic ideals around the world. Washington was chosen as army commander and as first president because of his character.

He was a man of deep integrity, self-control even in the face of disaster, and unselfishness even to the point of personal loss. He was determined and persevering, refusing to be either bought or discouraged. After America's victory, Washington could have become king or military dictator of America - it was literally his for the asking. He refused and insisted the country stick to ideals of limited, constitutional, law-abiding government.

You could say his greatness consists in him being an ordinary man with an extraordinary commitment to principle. As such, he became an example for every subsequent president to live up to.

Got Presidents?

If you need a "presidential" cockade, or any patriotic cockade, I have many options in my shops!

Or hit me up for a custom design. I'm always happy to create a cockade just for you, and there's no extra fee for custom work.

And if you haven't done it already... go vote! 

Candidates, Campaigns and Cockades

Here in South Carolina, we're hearing a lot of election talk as candidates for the 2016 Presidential race hold rallies and fundraising events in our state. Signs and campaign buttons are beginning to blossom in yards and on people's lapels. All this election fervor prompted me to go through my files on historic campaign badges.

Cockades have been used for over 150 years in American presidential campaigns. With the invention of the tintype button, it became easy for people to put a picture of their favorite candidate on a patriotic rosette.

This is a lovely cockade from the 1860 presidential election, featuring candidate Stephen Douglas (of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates). Early campaign cockades often had the tricolor red, white and blue separated into sections and this cockade is no exception. It appears to have originally had more streamers, possibly printed with words. The remaining blue streamer seems to have the word "Union" on it.

It's only natural that we look at a cockade from his rival, Abraham Lincoln. This cockade is from the 1864 election. You can tell that because the photo of Lincoln has a beard, something he hadn't yet grown in 1860. Once again, the three colors of the cockade are grouped separately in striking fan-shaped designs.

This 1864 Lincoln cockade is styled differently, however. The colors are placed in separate rings, something that was becoming common for patriotic cockades in general. 

Since we're in the 1860s, let's take a look at the other American election that happened then - the election for a president of the Confederate States of America. In this case, the choice for candidate was easy - such was Jefferson Davis's stature that he ran unopposed and was elected to a six-year term. This cockade shows the brilliant red and white, which have often been called the colors of the Confederacy.

By the way, this cockade is from an earlier Davis campaign, likely his 1857 senatorial race.

The campaign cockades didn't end with the Civil War. General U.S. Grant ran for president in 1868 and this beautiful velvet cockade is from that era. Rather showy, isn't it? Even the tintype button is rimmed in velvet!

As time went on, the candidates' photos became more sophisticated but the cockades remained lavish and flashy. Here's a beautiful one from 1896 for William McKinley. It looks almost exactly like the Lincoln cockade above, doesn't it?

Teddy Roosevelt's campaign produced some lovely cockades as well. Here's a gorgeous one with multiple "fans" and bullion tassels radiating out from the photo button.

As metal buttons and stickers became easier to produce in the twentieth century, cockades began to disappear. But a few still occasionally surfaced. Here's a brilliant one for Jimmy Carter's 1976 race.

And here's a striking one for Ronald Reagan's 1981 presidential inauguration.

I've heard a lot of talk about bringing back the values of the past to the presidency. But I have a further suggestion - Don't you think it's time to bring back these cockades? I do!

(And I'm not a bit biased, of course!)

In pursuing that line of thought, I have decided to offer a custom campaign cockade - you can have the candidate of your choice in the center! Just let me know who you are supporting and I'll be happy to put his or her photo in the center!

Copperheads, Peace and Constitutionalism

In August 150 years ago, this was the status of an American political group:

 ▪ Two of their senators had been run out of town
▪ They virtually shut down a state legislature for 2 years
▪ They inspired riots across the United States
▪ They caused secession to be threatened in many Northern areas
▪ They wrote the Democratic party platform for the 1864 election
▪ Lincoln called them "the fire in the rear" and at one time, feared them more than the Southern armies

Clement Vallandigham, a famous senator 

who was exiled by Lincoln

Who were they?
The Copperheads!

Copperheads were "Peace Democrats" - Northerners who believed for various reasons that the Civil War should be ended. They were called "copperheads" because their opponents viewed them as "snakes." Taking the name as a badge of honor, they wore literal badges that were a play on the words "copper" and "head." 

Copperhead badges were the head of Lady Liberty stamped on copper 1-cent coins. Sometimes the coin was pierced and worn as a watch fob. More often, Lady Liberty's head was cut out and worn as a pin. The Dayton (Ohio) Daily Empire explains, "the 'Copperhead' emblem, or 'Badge of Liberty,' 'mark it well,' is made of the head of the Goddess of Liberty, cut from a copper cent, with the word 'Liberty' stamped across the top of the cap." 

Both men and women proudly wore these badges - or secretly wore them, if public feeling against them was violent. Emotions ran high between Copperheads and their opponents, the "War Democrats" and Republicans. I found a wealth of primary sources detailing everything from inter-family arguments to city-wide riots between the two factions.

A sarcastic "catechism" ridiculing 

Copperheads' supposed views

Opposition to Copperhead Badges
Those wearing Copperhead badges faced the real possibility of having the badge literally ripped from their clothing by their opponents. Here is a typical story. "The Muskadine (Iowa) Journal says there was an exciting time at the anniversary exercises of Cornell College, at Mount Vernon, June 26th. It seems that a dozen persons from Marion appeared in the crowd with copperhead pins. About two thousand persons were present, the exercises being held in a grove. "On the appearance of the secesh emblems all business was suspended by the tumult, and every copperhead badge was hastily taken from its owner, and he forced to hurrah for the Union. A gray-headed traitor, who has been blatant for the Southern Confederacy, declared that he would not hurrah for the Union; but a little choking brought him to terms. One woman had on the Southern badge, which was torn from her breast, clothes and all, by another young woman. The latter had her bonnet destroyed in capturing the pin, and some young men raised eight or ten dollars instanter to replace the bonnet. The copperhead pins being all 'cleaned out,' the exercises were resumed and passed off very satisfactorily." 

Battles like Antietam, the single bloodiest day in American

history, discouraged Northerners and led them to join the 

Peace Democrats

What Were the Copperhead's Issues?
In spite of this opposition, Copperheads existed all throughout the Civil War. In fact, the movement had grown strong enough by 1864 that the Peace Democrats wrote the Democratic party platform and ran a candidate (George Pendleton) for Vice President. What were the issues that motivated so many people in the North to oppose the war?

A wide range of topics brought Peace Democrats together but they all boiled down to two basic issues: A conservative view of the Constitution, and a desperation to see the horrors of the Civil War end. The Peace Democrats warned at the beginning of the war that Lincoln's party was twisting the Constitution and encroaching on personal liberty. They forecasted dire consequences from national recession to the loss of personal freedom and even to the loss of the war. As the war went on and the death toll mounted, their worst predictions were fulfilled and the Copperhead movement gained traction.

Here is a quick list of some Copperhead grievances.

▪ Habeas Corpus was suspended
▪ Freedom of the press was suspended
▪ An income tax was created
▪ Debasing of currency by issuing "greenbacks" in place of silver or gold
▪ A draft was instituted with an accompanying intrusive bureaucracy
▪ Emancipation was handled in an unconstitutional way
▪ Punishing tariffs were enacted that led to nationwide trade deficits and recession

Rioting in New York City when the draft was instituted

When you look at this list and also consider how badly the war went for the North during the first several years, it's easy to see why the Copperhead movement gained traction. Most Copperheads believed secession was legal (actually, most Americans believed that until the Civil War). They didn't want the Southern states to secede but felt that the best way to prevent it was to deal with the issues that prompted secession, not go to war.

Senator James A. Bayard of Delaware summed it up: "I differ from honorable Senators as to what constitutes the life of the nation. In my judgment, the life of a free people consists in the preservation of their liberties, not in the extent of their dominion."

With the Northern victories at Atlanta in the East and Mobile Bay in the West, many Peace Democrats changed their minds and just wanted to finish the war victoriously. Thus, the Copperhead movement essentially died with the reelection of Lincoln in November 1864. 

An anti-copperhead cartoon. Note Lady Liberty's Union 

cockade at her collar.

Badges vs Cockades
My research of the Copperheads started when a customer asked me if there were Copperhead cockades. As nearly as I can tell, Copperheads stuck to their Lady Liberty badges, occasionally varying them with a butternut (also a Southern emblem). It was their opponents, Republicans and War Democrats, who wore the tricolor cockades.

The Dayton (Ohio) Daily Empire described the opposing emblems this way: "The 'Abolition emblems,' mark it well, are the eagle buttons, the tri color, and the stars and stripes. The 'Democratic emblems,' are 'copperheads' and 'butternuts'." copperhead badge My reproduction Copperhead badge!

ANNOUNCING!!!
After painstaking research, I partnered with a local craftsman jeweler to create beautiful exact reproductions of the Copperhead badge! I will be premiering them in my shop this week. Of course, I also carry "tricolor" Union and 1864 campaign cockades too - so whether your sympathies are with the War Democrats or the Peace Democrats, there's a badge there for you!

Need a quick summary to remember the Copperheads? Here's an infographic to save!