National Woman's Party

Definition

The National Woman's Party (NWP) was a prominent American women's suffrage organization founded in 1916 that focused on securing the right to vote for women through more militant tactics than previous groups. The NWP, led by figures such as Alice Paul, aimed for an equal rights amendment and was instrumental in advocating for the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in 1920. Their activism, including picketing and hunger strikes, highlighted the urgency of women's suffrage and pushed the issue into the national spotlight.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The NWP was founded to fight for women's suffrage using more aggressive strategies than earlier organizations like the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).
2. Alice Paul and Lucy Burns were pivotal in organizing protests and demonstrations that gained significant media attention for women's suffrage.
3. The NWP was the first group to picket the White House, leading to arrests and hunger strikes that garnered public sympathy for their cause.
4. After their activism led to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, the NWP continued to push for an Equal Rights Amendment, emphasizing broader gender equality.
5. The NWP faced backlash during the post-war period, as society sought a return to traditional gender roles after World War I, complicating their ongoing efforts.

Review Questions

• How did the strategies employed by the National Woman's Party differ from those of earlier women's suffrage organizations?
  • The National Woman's Party utilized more militant tactics compared to earlier organizations like NAWSA. They organized aggressive protests, picketed the White House, and engaged in hunger strikes to draw attention to their cause. This shift towards direct action helped raise awareness and urgency around women's suffrage, contrasting with the more conservative approaches that relied on lobbying and persuasion.
• Discuss how Alice Paul's leadership shaped the goals and methods of the National Woman's Party during the suffrage movement.
  • Alice Paul's leadership was crucial in defining both the goals and methods of the National Woman's Party. She advocated for a more radical approach to securing women's voting rights, emphasizing direct action such as picketing and protests. Her focus on an Equal Rights Amendment and her willingness to employ militant tactics helped differentiate the NWP from other suffrage organizations, pushing women's rights into mainstream discourse.
• Evaluate the impact of post-war attitudes on the National Woman's Party's efforts after women gained the right to vote through the 19th Amendment.
  • After gaining the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the National Woman's Party encountered significant challenges due to post-war attitudes that favored a return to traditional gender roles. Many people believed women's place was at home rather than in political activism, which hindered support for ongoing efforts toward gender equality. This backlash against women's activism not only affected NWP initiatives but also reflected broader societal tensions about women's roles in a rapidly changing America.

Related terms

Alice Paul: A key leader of the women's suffrage movement and co-founder of the National Woman's Party, known for her militant tactics and advocacy for women's rights.

Suffragette: A term used to describe women who fought for the right to vote in the early 20th century, often associated with militant activism.

19th Amendment: The constitutional amendment ratified in 1920 that granted women in the United States the legal right to vote.