Alice Paul Saanvi Kunisetty

 Alice Paul

Saanvi Kunisetty 

Alice Paul was one of the most famous activists for women’s rights, specifically in relation to suffrage. Her major goal was to earn women the right to vote by having a national amendment passed, and her plan of action was to directly address the federal government with this issue, specifically President Woodrow Wilson. She had a parade the day before President Wilson’s inauguration to increase publicity (which she worked on raising her own funds for). Marching would happened during this parade, to show the politicians that all the women were united for their cause. She also engaged in picketing and formed picket lines to raise awareness and show dedication for their cause. She stood outside the white house, and vowed to continue doing so until the amendment was passed. She used signs quoting the President’s words as evidence for the justice that needed to be given to women, and when nothing was done, she burned paper with the President’s quotes in a fire to the side of a street, while reading the quotes out loud. Her most influential act was her hunger strike when she was sent to prison for picketing. Other workers/prisoners began to follow her path. This began to bring awareness to her cause, and the government didn’t want to have a death on their hands, so they force-fed her raw eggs and milk, in order to keep her alive, but this combination of foods has many negative effects on the body. In the end, though, she was released from prison, and after awhile, Wilson supported women’s rights, and the nineteenth amendment was passed.

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