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Essay On Alice Paul

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On January 10th, 1917, a group of young women 's rights activists waited outside the White House fence holding signs with the controversial statement, "Mr. President, how long must women wait to get their liberty? Let us have the rights we deserve." Among these activists stood Alice Paul, the founder of the National Woman 's Party (NWP). Paul was full of determination and passion with everything she did. The woman fought for her beliefs until the day she died and refused to give anything less than 100% commitment to her cause. The fight for Universal Suffrage was her reason to live. As a leader, Paul and her followers persisted through tough situations to stand for what they believed in: equal rights. Alice is known for many extraordinary …show more content…

The two girls felt the need to fight for Universal Suffrage on a constitutional level rather than state-by-state campaigning. After spending time in England, Paul incorporated many British tactics in the NWP such as militant protests, picketing, and hunger strikes. Such protests included the first ever Women 's March on the day of President Woodrow Wilson 's Inauguration. Though this may be viewed as disrespectful, the protests were intended to be completely nonviolent despite often ending with the women being ridiculed or even abused. The intentions of the NWP were harmless and the women persevered through an enormous amount of hate. Most women of the NWP did eventually end up in prison, including Alice Paul. By targeting the White House and the president personally, the NWP gained a great deal of public attention. Their cause was written about in newspapers and almost all of America knew of their fight for women 's suffrage. Once the amendment was passed the group of women did not stop. After completing one goal they moved on to the next. According to Debra Michals, Ph.D., “Afterward, Paul and the National Woman’s Party focused on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to guarantee women constitutional protection from discrimination.” The party, at the time, may have …show more content…

When the United States grew involved in World War 1 the women who took part in the Silent Sentinel protests were labeled unpatriotic. How could people protest against the leader of their country during a time of war? How could women try to tear the country in half during a time where everyone must stand strong together? The women were harshly treated for their alienated actions. Paul, aware of the war and the accusations made against herself, continued to lead the Silent Sentinels in picketing ahead of the White House regardless of the disrespect they presented. In addition, the women also explicitly used President Wilson 's words against him to cause aggravation and present clear points. Paul was a stubborn woman who the media viewed as unladylike for the time period. She did everything in her power to keep her marches and protests peaceful but with many people who strongly disagreed with her, things often escalated quickly. Paul viewed the president as a threat and rightly so. After months of picketing, Wilson issued the arrest of the Silent Sentinels for "obstructing traffic." The women were found guilty and sent to the Occoquan Workhouse. The "Night of Terror" is known as the night many of the women involved in the protesting were harshly beaten and abused in the workhouse. After hearing of such attacks, Paul too had herself arrested. While in the prison Paul and the other women

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The death of Inez Milholland greatly impacted the suffrage movement since she was one of the main forces behind it. The entire suffrage movement lost hope in their cause along with their inspiring leader. It seemed as though the campaign was over, especially once Wilson was reelected. Inez’s funeral consisted of virtually all women who felt as though they lost a “sister.” Alice Paul was one of the most affected, and she even began to question the purpose of suffrage in the first place.

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Alice joins the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). February 1913 Alice and Lucy Burns helped found the Congressional Union for Women’s Suffrage but after not getting enough help from NAWSA financially and having different ideals as well, they decide to leave the organization. March 3, 1913 Alice organizes a suffragist parade the day before President Wilson’s inauguration.

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“It is unthinkable that a national government which represents women should ignore the issue of the right of all women to political freedom.” The movement of Lucy Burns mainly took place in the 20th century between 1913 and 1920. Many of her rallies and protest took place in front of the White House but some in other countries like Europe where she met Alice Paul in London in a police station. Lucy Burns took a stand towards her belief in women equality and she stood firm on her belief even after getting arrested 6 times, having her banners wording her beliefs torn, and the government only approving the suffrage amendment due to hunger strikes held by those who were caught and jailed, which was many.

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Alice wanted a national amendment whereas the NAWSA wanted to focus on state campaigns. The NAWSA supported President Wilson but Alice blamed him for the continued disenfranchisement of women. So in 1914 she formed the National Woman’s Party (NWP) and cut all ties with the NAWSA. “The NWP organized “Silent Sentinels” to stand outside the White House holding banners inscribed with incendiary phrases directed toward President Wilson” (Carol, Myers, Lindman, n.d., National Woman 's Party, Picketing and Prison, para 1). They continued their picketing through World War 1 and many thought of them as unpatriotic.

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Alice Paul has changed American society by being an American suffragist, feminist, and women's rights activist. Alice Paul dedicated her life to fighting for women's equality. She created the National Woman’s Party in the year 1916. Also cofounded in the Congressional Union. Alice Paul’s actions encouraged the passage the 19th amendment.

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Alice Paul empowered women all across the world to fight for women’s suffrage. Alice Paul is a brave woman who fought for what she believed in and persevere through anything that came in her way. Paul formed organizations to spread the word about women’s suffrage and to get people on board to support their cause. Alice Paul protested using many tactics such as marches, rallies, hunger strikes, and picketing outside of White House. Alice Paul is a woman who fought for women’s suffrage through the formation of organizations, assembling protests, rallies, parades and the ratification of the 19th amendment.

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She was originally from Moorestown, New Jersey, went to college at Swarthmore, and was a hardworking student. “by the time Alice was a junior, she had become a serious student who often hung a ‘ busy’ sign on her door and studied through the night,” (kops 1, 8). Military like leadership of a party called the National Women’s Party, “Feminist organizer Alice Paul (1885-1977) cofounded the National Woman 's Party and led the militant wing of the woman suffrage movement” (“Commentary on Alice Paul”). The National women’s party was a group of young women fighting for women’s right to vote using protests. Alice made many other strides towards equal rights like getting the women’s party to fight on a national level not at the state level.

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Did you know that Abigail Adams concerned about women's rights? She once said to her husband, John Adams ”Remember the ladies”. She was also a vital confidant and advisor to her husband John Adams. She opposed slavery and supported women's education. She helped woman’s rights become like they are today.

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Some women fought to get the Nineteenth Amendment passed so that women could vote and have more political power within the male government. An example of a woman who fought for the vote was Alice Paul who founded the National Women’s party, which was the group that lead the more aggressive push for the 19th Amendment (“Alice Paul”). This was a challenge against society as they worked towards the political power that women were being deprived of. Alice Paul made a large difference to the political status of women as the 1920s was a turning point for women and one of the main reasons that women were more independent in society was because the 19th Amendment was ratified. She was very influential in this movement and continued to fight for Women’s Rights for the rest of her life, for example, “in 1923, Paul proposed an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution” which many women fought for to gain more equality between men and women in the United States (“Alice Paul”).

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Her education in political science allowed her to understand that if she could get to the head of the White House then she could get to the rest of his party through him. However, she was generally ignored by Wilson. The NWP did not let up on their efforts. They stayed and picketed through the wartime, even through the bad weather. Katharine Morey and Lucy Burns were arrested on June 20 for calling the president a liar and obstructing traffic.

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Females from all over America were waiting for more than a hundred years for the day that they can finally vote. A New York Times report said, “The half century struggle for women’s suffrage in the united states reached its climax at 8 o’clock this morning, when Bainbridge Colby, as a secretary of state, issued his proclamation announcing that the 19th amendment had become a part of the constitution of the United States.” Woodrow Wilson was president at the time and women stood outside his office protesting to have this right. Woodrow made a speech on this day saying “I for one believe that our safety in those questioning day, as well as our comprehension of matter that touch our society to the quick, will depend upon the direct and authorization participation of women in our counsels. ”(Wilson)

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In the movie ” Iron Jawed Angels” the women used many different methods to earn the right to vote in the Women’s Suffrage Movement. One way is Alice Paul and Lucy Burns held a parade in Washington D.C. at Woodrow Wilson invocation, the women wore their graduation robes to show that they were smart, they held signs and banners, the parade became violent and after the parade was over the women said it was a success because it gave them publicity. Another way is they picketed Alice Paul formed a group to picket in front of the White House but Lucy Burns stopped her from going because if they get arrested they will be in jail for a really long time and they still need someone to lead the NWP (National Woman 's Party), so the women with Lucy Burns

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The civil war had a very profound effect on America and what it has become today. With the civil war many changes took place such as 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment. Women’s rights were put forth into motion. Along with Reconstruction laws being passes and the push back that these laws caused. During this time the south became even more divided and started to take things into account and create their own laws in regards to racism.

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Phyllis Schlafly started the campaign of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923 and I am beyond certain that the ERA activists today will not stop until it is ratified and accepted into the constitution. At the end of ERA battle, Sonia Johnson made an incredible and uplifting statement for all women. She said, “I am sure I am not the only feminist who is occasionally clear-sighted enough to be grateful to Phyllis Schlafly for making us have to fight so hard for the Equal Rights Amendment. Whether in the end this amendment is the way women will achieve legal equality or not, it is still true that the struggle over its ratification has provided the greatest political training ground for women in the history of the world”

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