UCS 2018
Alice Paul: Champion of the Woman Suffrage
Lisa Kathleen Graddy
Alice Paul came to Washington in 1913 determined to change the established landscape of the suffrage
movement that concentrated on winning the vote one state at a time. In just a few weeks she put together a
pageant and a parade that marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, demanding a Constitutional amendment
giving women in the United States the right to vote. The parade took place on March 3, the day before
[5] Woodrow Wilson took office, effectively putting the incoming president on notice that a new generation
of woman suffragists was literally moving forward. The day was marked by violence from hostile crowds,
prompting a Congressional investigation into the D.C. police’s protection of the marchers, but the event
and its aftermath made headlines. And headlines, bringing public attention, public debate, and possibly
public support and pressure, were exactly what Alice Paul wanted. For seven years she kept the demand
[10] for woman suffrage in the public and presidential eyes in demonstrations that eventually came to the point
of picketing the White House and burning President Wilson’s speeches. When her tactics became too
“radical” for the National American Woman Suffrage Association, she formed the National Woman’s Party
and continued on.
Paul’s life had prepared her for this work. Born in 1885, her Quaker family taught her that men and
[15] women were equals. She earned advanced degrees in sociology but was frustrated by the slow progress
of social work. To remedy the problems of poverty, health, and education required changing laws – and
changing laws required the votes of women. Paul worked for woman suffrage while in college but it was
during her graduate studies in England that she became exposed to the confrontational tactics of the
English “suffragettes.” When she returned to the United States she was ready to adapt their tactics for an
[20] American audience.
The most dramatic episode of Paul’s suffrage battle took place in January 1917, when, discouraged
by President Wilson’s continued opposition to the suffrage amendment, Paul posted pickets at the White
House gates – the first people to ever picket the White House. These “silent sentinels” stayed on duty in
all weather and in the face of threats, insults, and physical violence. Using their banners and their quiet
[25] courage they asked, “Mr. President How Long Must Women Wait for their Liberty?” and “Mr. President What
Will you do for Woman Suffrage?” Hoping to provoke a response, the language on the banners became
more inflammatory. They used the president’s own words against him and pointed out the hypocrisy of
his leading the country into the first world war to defend freedom while denying it to the women of his own
country.
[30] Crowds who believed the pickets’ activities were disloyal in a time of war attacked the suffragists and
destroyed their banners. In July the police began arresting the pickets for “obstruction of traffic.” When
they refused to pay fines, they were imprisoned. When they went on hunger strikes to demand the rights of
political prisoners they were forcibly fed – a painful and invasive procedure. The pickets continued despite
the risk. Although Alice knew what lay ahead and that she, as the organizer of the picketing, would receive
[35] a harsher sentence, she insisted on taking her place on the picket line. She was arrested in October.
While in jail she was forcibly fed and threatened with confinement to an insane asylum. Reports of the
long sentences, abuse, and the courage of the suffragists became public and all prisoners were released
in November. Physically weakened due to the time they had spent in jail, but determined to be victorious,
Paul and her sister suffragists fought on.
[40] The 19th amendment giving women the right to vote was ratified on August 18, 1920. Women had
won the vote but they still hadn’t achieved equal rights, so Paul and the National Woman’s Party took up
the fight to achieve them. Believing that the more she understood about law the more useful she would
be, Paul went back to school and earned three law degrees. In 1923 she drafted the text of the Equal
Rights Amendment and worked for women’s equality in national and international forums for the rest of
[45] her career. Nonetheless, it was only in 1972 that Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment and sent
it to the states for ratification.
Alice suffered a stroke in 1974 and died on July 9, 1977, at the age of 92. She would never know that
the amendment for which she had fought so long and hard would not be ratified. Alice Paul dedicated her
life to championing women and their rights. Remember her the next time you vote.
Disponível em: <http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2012/05/alice-paul-champion-of-woman-suffrage.html>. Acesso em: 7 ago. 17. (Adaptado.)
Conforme o texto, é correto afirmar que Alice Paul
foi ameaçada pelo presidente Woodrow Wilson durante um dos piquetes.
utilizou as estratégias aprendidas com a família para chamar a atenção do público.
ateou fogo em papéis durante um discurso do presidente Woodrow Wilson.
adotou táticas consideradas radicais pela Associação da qual fazia parte.
fundou o Partido Nacional das Mulheres com apoio da população.
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