ENCORE: The Fight for Women's Suffrage | The 19th Amendment | 5

The National Women's Party, led by Alice Paul, demonstrated remarkable daring and persistence in their fight for women’s suffrage, often facing extreme adversity.

Alice Paul and the NWP Escalated Tactics, Defying Norms and Exposing Government Hypocrisy

In the summer of 1917, Alice Paul and the NWP escalated their protests to the White House gates, resuming their efforts in June and drawing attention to President Wilson’s contradictory stance on democracy. Newspapers criticized them, and the police responded with arrests.

NWP Picketed White House, Criticized President Wilson For Denying Democracy to Women

The Silent Sentinels, as the picketers were known, were attacked by onlookers and harassed for unfurling a banner comparing the democracy afforded in Russia with its denial in the U.S., labeling Wilson as the primary obstacle to women’s suffrage. This criticism was also sharply pointed when they addressed President Wilson as "Kaiser Wilson," a reference to the German emperor, insinuating that Wilson’s refusal to grant women the vote mirrored autocratic denials of democratic rights.

Picketers Endured Violent Attacks, Frequent Arrests, Jail Time, and Brutal Force-Feedings During Hunger Strikes

The picketers faced violent attacks and were spit on, kicked, and pelted with rocks. Mobs even followed and attacked them at the NWP headquarters. Throughout these confrontations, the police charge them with "obstructing sidewalk traffic," though the picketers note the absence of pedestrians and presence of the aggressive mob.

The NWP protesters, who came from varied backgrounds, faced increased jail sentences over time and were subjected to maggot-infested food and unsanitary conditions in the Occoquan Workhouse. Their peaceful protests could result in sentences of up to six months.

Paul and the NWP Used the Crackdown to Generate Sympathy and Outrage

Alice Paul’s imprisonment in October led to her initiating a hunger strike alongside Rose Winslow. Their subsequent force-feeding and the severe mistreatment of other jailed suffragists during the “night of terror” led to a public outcry. The stark contrast ...

The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), under Carrie Chapman Catt's leadership, employed a moderate strategy focusing on loyalty, patriotism, and direct political engagement to advance women's suffrage.

Catt and Nawsa's Moderate Strategy For Women's Suffrage

Carrie Chapman Catt steered NAWSA along a path of demonstrating American women's loyalty and patriotism. She hoped that this demonstration would eventually lead to women being granted the right to vote.

Catt Fostered Ties With President Wilson, Backing the War Effort and Highlighting Women's Patriotism

Carrie Chapman Catt personally opposed the war, but strategically pledged NAWSA’s support to President Wilson and urged suffragists to put their effort into patriotic pursuits. She courted President Wilson, striving to show the organization’s loyalty by backing the war effort. NAWSA highlighted women’s patriotism by participating in war-related activities and showcasing this involvement as proof of their loyalty and commitment to the nation.

The National Association sought to prove American women's patriotism through their participation in war efforts, boasting two million members and operating as the largest women's organization in America. They supported the Red Cross, encouraged conservation actions among housewives, raised funds for military hospitals, and advocated for the safety standards of women war workers. NAWSA’s publicity arm actively celebrated women's contributions to the war in the hope of convincing the nation—and Wilson—to respond with suffrage rights.

In 1917, Nawsa's Campaign Secured Women's Suffrage in New York

In 1917, Carrie Chapman Catt led a well-coordinated campaign in New York, aiming to incorporate women's suffrage into the state constitution. Large amounts of money were raised to mobilize organizers and collect signatures in support of the cause. NAWSA established suffrage schools teaching volunteers crucial skills such as canvassing and media communication.

The campaign successfully secured a diverse coalition of supporters, including immigrants and black activists from various socio-economic backgrounds. With New Yo ...

The path to passing the 19th Amendment in the United States Congress was fraught with challenges, characterized by astute lobbying efforts and political maneuvering.

House Passed Suffrage Amendment 1918, Senate Delayed Vote

In December 1917, the House formed a new Woman Suffrage Committee to reinvigorate efforts for the Susan B. Anthony Amendment. Montana Congresswoman Jeanette Rankin played a pivotal role in this committee, which quickly moved to action, hearing testimony on the amendment in early January 1918. By January 8, the committee made a favorable report, paving the way for a floor vote. During the vote, suffragists filled the galleries of Congress, witnessing the amendment scrape through by a slim margin of one vote.

However, the journey through the Senate proved more vexing. Senators opposed to the idea of women's suffrage effectively blocked and delayed the amendment vote on two occasions during the winter and spring of 1918.

Catt Lobbied Senate For Suffrage Amendment, Faced Setbacks

Following the House's approval of the suffrage amendment, all eyes turned to the Senate. Suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt spearheaded a concerted effort to influence Senate votes, instructing her staff to launch a substantial letter and telegram campaign. Catt was acutely aware of the close margin in the House and the equal possibility of a narrow defeat in the Senate.

Despite intense lobbying efforts, Catt faced setbacks. A Senator from New Mexico, who also chaired the Woman's Suffrage Committee, admitted to the shortfall of votes needed in the Senate. This frustration was palpable when Catt erupted into his office, dismayed that another floor vote had been canceled.

Wilson's Endorsement Swayed Reluctant Democrats, but the Senate Fell Short In 1918

Carrie Chapman Catt's tactical cultivation of her relationship with President Woodrow Wilson proved critical. The President gradually inched closer to supporting the federal amendment, but it wasn ...

Suffragists Sought 36 State Ratifications for the 19th Amendment, With Tennessee As the Crucial Battleground

Suffragists, eager to secure the right to vote for women before the presidential election in November 1920, realized that they required ratification by 36 state legislatures for the 19th Amendment to become law. By the summer of 1920, 35 states had ratified the Amendment, and all eyes turned to Tennessee, seen as a beacon of hope since it had already granted women the right to vote in presidential elections.

Catt and Suffrage Leaders Challenge Tennessee Legislature Amid Opposition

In anticipation of a historic vote, suffragists, anti-suffragists, reporters, and corporate lobbyists converged on Nashville during the first week of August 1920. Carrie Chapman Catt arrived to lead the campaign, despite strong opposition that included major industries fearing labor-friendly reforms supported by women voters. Amidst hostilities, legislative delays, and attempts at obstruction, the Tennessee Senate cast their votes in favor of ratification on August 13.

August 1920 Showdown: Tennessee House Ratifies 19th Amendment, Secures 36th State Approval

The battle moved to the House, where the vote was expected to be more challenging, with Speaker Seth Walker and others swayed by corporate interests now opposing the Amendment. On August 18th, the vital House vote took place. Harry Byrne, a young legislator, received a letter from his mother urging him to support ratification, leading to his crucial "aye" vote. With a narrow margin of 49 to 47, the motion to ratify the 19th Amendment passed in the Tennessee House, locking in the crucial 36th state approval needed for women's suffrage to become law.

19th Amendment Ratification Enfranchised Over 26 Million American Women, yet Voting Barriers Persisted, Especially For Women of Color

The ratification of the 19th Amendment was a watershed moment, enfranchising more than 26 million American women in what was ...