Alice Paul: A Leader of a New Wave

Alice Paul, 1901

       When thinking of women's rights, its only fair to first think of Alice Paul. Not only was she the leader of the National Woman's Party, but was one of the key factor's in the 19th Amendment getting passed. Born on January 11th, 1885 to William and Tacie (Parry) Paul, Alice grew up in Morrestown, New Jersey. The oldest out of four, Alice grew up on a farm her father owned with her family. Coming from a Quaker background, Alice always had the ideas of gender equality and education for women set in stone. Her mother Tacie (a member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association) helped these ideas of women's rights come to life, bringing Alice with her to suffragist meetings as a child. 

After going to school, Alice traveled to England where she went from a Quaker who believed in rights for women, to a militant suffragist. There to study social work, she took this opportunity to learn more about what she could do for women. By coming into contact with Emmeline Pankhurst (who with her sister and mother ran one of the biggest groups of suffragettes in England), Alice was able to take part in picketing, hunger strikes, heckling, and even breaking things to get attention. With all of these new ideas and plans in her head, Alice headed back to the U.S. to see what she could do for the women back home.

Alice Paul in England, 1914

Once back in the States, Alice decided it was time to bring the methods she had learned to NAWSA (National American Suffrage Association). But to her dismay, the leaders did not believe that such tactics were needed and in 1916 she parted ways, creating the NWP (National Woman's Party). Instead of taking the same route as the NAWSA, the NWP took direct hits at the government, including President Wilson. While this ended in many of the members being put into horrible jail conditions, the NWP didn't stop there approaches throughout the hard times and soon enough President Wilson changed his thoughts. After Wilson announced his support in the group, the 19th Amendment was soon passed by both House and Senate.

Not only was Alice Paul an extremely brave woman for her time, but she had a fire that clearly could never be put out. She fought tirelessly through hunger strikes, public and police brutality, and much more to make sure that women had the same rights to vote as men. Reading her stories about what she went through to simply be able to vote made me feel like even today, I myself should be doing something. Alice Paul also showed to so many that no matter your background, if you truly believe in something you can make a difference. I don't personally think many would see Alice Paul and believe that from everything she had done (and how she had accomplished them) that she was Quaker, and that might be my favorite part about her. Seeing such a strong independent woman help others take on a Government run by men was inspiring, and it is very clear through everything we do have now as women that she made a monumental impact.

"When you put your hand to the plow, you can't put it down until you get to the end of the row." -Alice Paul

Alice Paul at the WNP headquarters in Washington, 1956

Works Cited

Carol, Rebecca, et al. “Who Was Alice Paul - API.” Alicepaul.org, www.alicepaul.org/who-was-alice-paul/.

“Alice Paul.” Edited by Debra Michals, National Women's History Museum, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/alice-paul.

Ozmore, Susan. “Alice Paul – The Final Stretch for Women's Suffrage.” Saints, Sisters, and Sluts, 3 Oct. 2012, saintssistersandsluts.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/alice-paul-the-final-stretch-for-womens-suffrage/.