During the Reconstruction Era, supporters of women's rights used legislative and organizational means in their battle for equal rights and suffrage. The successes and failures of the 14th and 15th Amendments helped shape the landscape of the American suffrage movement that culminated in the 19th Amendment. The assigned readings address the legislative and organizational avenues actively used by women's rights and suffrage advocates, although in slightly different ways. The two readings align well with each other, each bringing a unique perspective to an important historical phrase within the women's rights movement in the United States. The first reading, “Taking the Law into Our Hands: Bradwell, Minor and Suffrage Militance in the 1870s” by Ellen Carol DuBois discusses the beginnings of women's rights advocacy in American law, particularly the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the American Constitution. DuBois explores the legal arguments used by suffragists, the popular support and militant activism inspired by the legal arguments, and the defeat of women's rights demands under the 14th and 15th Amendments. Drawing on the legal cases of Bradwell and Minor, DuBois illustrates how the activism of the suffrage movement evolved in response to the Supreme Court's decisions in these cases. More specifically, DuBois illustrates the importance of understanding the issues surrounding the 14th and 15th Amendments and their implications for the American suffrage movement. Women's rights were treated very differently, as something to be won and exercised collectively rather than individually; as an object of political struggle as well as judicial resolution...... middle of article ......by both who ultimately served as precursors of modern feminism. Both readings address important aspects of the American suffrage movement, major ideologies, individual and collective actions taken, specific strategies and tactics expected for a viable outcome, which had to operate within the constraints of the legal and political arenas for recognition of equal citizenship between the sexes. Both are equally valuable and contribute significantly to the current wealth of historical scholarship on the American suffrage movement. My only criticism of these two readings would be the lack of attention to non-traditional women: the poor class, freed women of color and many others. I think both readings would be greatly improved if women outside of traditional upper and middle class white women were included..