Born: 1885 (Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey)
Died: 1977
Biography:
Alice Stokes Paul (January 11, 1885 – July 9, 1977) was an American Quaker, suffragist, feminist, and women’s rights activist. She was one of the foremost leaders and strategists of the campaign for the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits sex discrimination in the right to vote. Throughout her life, Paul demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, courage, and unwavering determination in the fight for women’s suffrage and gender equality.
Born on January 11, 1885, in Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey, Alice Paul was named after her maternal grandmother, Alice Stokes, and her ancestry included notable figures such as William Penn, the Quaker founder of Pennsylvania. Growing up in a Quaker family, Paul was instilled with principles of public service and social justice from an early age.
Paul’s interest in women’s suffrage was ignited by her mother, who was a member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). She often accompanied her mother to suffragist meetings, where she first became aware of the inequalities faced by women in society.
After attending Moorestown Friends School, Paul enrolled at Swarthmore College in 1901. It was at Swarthmore where her passion for political activism and leadership began to flourish. She served on the Executive Board of Student Government and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1905.
Following her graduation, Paul pursued a fellowship year in New York City, working at the Rivington Street Settlement House on the Lower East Side. This experience further deepened her understanding of social injustices and galvanized her commitment to fighting for the rights of marginalized individuals.
In 1907, Paul moved to England to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Birmingham, where she earned a master’s degree in sociology. It was during her time in London that she became heavily involved in the suffrage movement and was arrested multiple times for her activism.
Upon returning to the United States in 1910, Paul joined the NAWSA and quickly rose through the ranks due to her exceptional leadership skills. Frustrated with the slow progress of the organization, she formed the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage (later renamed the National Woman’s Party) in 1913, along with Lucy Burns and other dedicated suffragists.
Under Paul’s strategic guidance, the National Woman’s Party employed bold and innovative tactics to bring attention to the cause of women’s suffrage. One of their most notable achievements was the Woman Suffrage Procession in 1913, a grand parade held in Washington, D.C., on the eve of President Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration. Thousands of suffragists marched through the streets, demanding their right to vote.
In 1917, Paul organized the Silent Sentinels, a group of suffragists who peacefully protested outside the White House. They held banners urging President Wilson to support an amendment to the Constitution granting women the right to vote. However, Paul and her fellow activists faced brutal treatment from the police, including physical abuse and imprisonment.
Despite the hardships and adversity faced, Paul and the Silent Sentinels remained steadfast, employing nonviolent resistance as their weapon of choice. These courageous acts drew widespread attention and support, ultimately playing a pivotal role in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in August 1920, granting women the right to vote.
After the success of the suffrage movement, Paul dedicated the next half-century of her life to fighting for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and constitutional equality for women. In collaboration with Crystal Eastman, Paul drafted the original text of the ERA, which aimed to eliminate discrimination based on gender.
Paul’s advocacy for the ERA faced significant opposition from various groups, but she persisted in her mission. In 1964, her long years of relentless activism paid off when the Civil Rights Act was enacted, including provisions that protected women against discrimination.
Throughout her life, Alice Paul demonstrated unwavering commitment and fearless determination in the pursuit of women’s rights. Her leadership and strategic savvy helped shape the suffrage movement and laid the groundwork for future advancements in gender equality. She has rightly earned her place as one of the most influential and trailblazing figures in women’s history.
Awards:
– Heritage of Hope Award from the Quaker Tapestry Museum
– Suffrage Medal of Honor from the National Women’s Party