Militant Suffragists & the NWP
The National Woman's Party had a different political culture than the conservative NAWSA. The NWP began as a committee within the NAWSA in early 1913, soon split off, and was known as the Congressional Union (CU) for a time. The NWP demanded an amendment to the U.S. Constitution stating voting rights would no longer be restricted according to sex.
The NWP used visual tactics to get attention. They acted in public in unwomanly, unladylike ways. Militant suffragists marched in parades. They made cross-country automobile pilgrimages to present Congress with signed petitions. They picketed the president of the United States outside his home. As a result, they received a lot of publicity.
The NWP published a weekly newspaper, The Suffragist. The paper told about NWP’s political activities and progress toward a federal amendment. It made use of visual images, both photographs and political cartoons.
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The NWP used visual tactics to get attention. They acted in public in unwomanly, unladylike ways. Militant suffragists marched in parades. They made cross-country automobile pilgrimages to present Congress with signed petitions. They picketed the president of the United States outside his home. As a result, they received a lot of publicity.
The NWP published a weekly newspaper, The Suffragist. The paper told about NWP’s political activities and progress toward a federal amendment. It made use of visual images, both photographs and political cartoons.
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Alice Paul Emerging from NWP National Headquarters
Alice Paul and other militant suffragists leave NWP headquarters to picket the White House, Oct. 20, 1917. Paul's banner reads, "The time has come to conquer or submit for there is but one choice, we have made it." The choice? To picket in spite of knowing the price would be a six month jail term.
-Suffrage photograph
Alice Paul leaving NWP headquarters, leading picket line to the White House. Oct. 20, 1917. Photograph by Harris & Ewing. Records of the National Woman's Party. Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mnwp.160029
Amendment Float, Suffragettes Parade, March 3, 1913, Washington, D.C.
Suffragists march in a woman suffrage parade in Washington D.C. Horses pull a large float with a sign. The sign demands a federal amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This event became a turning point in the American woman suffrage movement. Typical of postcards published of organized suffrage events, this postcard uses a photograph of the event rather than an illustration.
-Photograph on suffrage postcard
Amendment Float, Suffragettes Parade, March 3, 1913, Washington, D.C.. Lees and Ottenheimer Postcard. Palczewski, Catherine H. Postcard Archive. University of Northern Iowa. Cedar Falls, IA.
