Eunice Foote: Scientist and Suffragette

Eunice Foote: Scientist and Suffragette

Eunice Newton Foote collecting observations for her groundbreaking atmospheric research.

Illustration by Carlyn Iverson

Eunice Newton Foote discovered the greenhouse effect in 1856. So why did John Tyndall receive the credit for the making the same conclusion three years later? In this history-focused lesson, students will explore her discovery and its implications as well as the context in which she conducted her research. By the end of this lesson, students will connect Foote’s unequal treatment to her work as a suffragette, fighting for women’s rights. Students will explore unequal treatment of groups in the United States today and use the women’s rights movement to inspire activism.