A comical look of the way people saw american suffragists pursuits/ depicting their rights being hopeless their idea are dead.
the judgement the women faced from the community
As i researched i began to understand the event that led to the rising point for these women suffragists to begin their drastic way of protesting. The hunger strikes led by the suffragists definitely had an great impact that changed the american society in world war one. The national women party, (NWP) formed in 1913 with 50,000 members, publicly made people aware of the w omens suffrage campaign. Women did not have the right to vote so these parties and organizations like the NWP and NAWSA (National American women Suffrage association) made up of suffragists were determined to change the law. While learning about the different suffragists groups i got a little confused in all of the different groups that branched off of each other but all involving women suffragists. The National women party was the main one involved in carrying out hunger strikes and were willing to risk everything they had for arrest. However before learning about the details of the actual hunger strike the first thing that came up every time repetitively throughout my research process was a women by the name of Alice Paul.
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suffragists dedication to have the right to vote and be treated the same
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a drawn picture from "the Suffragette" newspaper
When learning about Alice Paul its obvious that she was such a role model for women than and i think even now! Alice Paul was an activist who led the nationals women party in trying various ways to gain the presidents attention like holding signs at the gate of the white house that simply asked "Mr.President, How long must women wait for liberty." I get so excited when i find actual statements and actions these suffragists carried out it really helps me not only visualize but makes it so much more realistic. However under Alice Paul and her persistence in picketing in front of the white house resulted in president wilson feeling embaressed and taunted by the women. Wilson sent police who began arresting the suffragists and placing them in jail for longer sentences as they kept picketing. Alice Paul was arrested and sentenced for seven months in prison where she was barely fed at all to the point she become so weak she was taken to the hospital. From that point Alice Paul began the hunger strike. Her determination was almost unreal all these doctors threatened to put her in asylums and wards because she refused to eat but she didn't budge. She stood up for what she believed in.... In my opinion that is truly admirable. Doctors afraid she was on the verge of death stuffed a tube down her throat and forcibly poured different liquid into her stomach for three weeks. Alice Paul STILL DIDNT GIVE UP, despite the illness and excruciating pain that went along with force feeding she didn't end the hunger strike. Alice led a inspirational campaign that resulted in the success of women voting.
The lovely Alice Paul
Similar to Alice's treatment in jail in response to pursuing the hunger strike doctors used awful techniques of physical force to make these women eat. This forceful feeding used to stop the womens pursuits did not stop these suffragists from continuing their strike. Women would be tied down to a chair or held down by many doctors in order to feed them through a tube against their will. Some women would be force fed over 200 times, the process always lasted for long periods of time. A high death risk sometimes occured when the tube used to transfer the liquid food to the women were shoved so far down the womens throat it would enter the windpipe and cause food to enter the lungs. .Many women suffragists died even after getting out of jail as a result of the conditions that were preformed on the prisoners. When news got out about the awful conditions of the treatment for suffragists in jail may Americans were incredibly angry and formed more support for the suffragists. The inappropriate ways of feeding against an individuals will shocked everyone and actually helped in drawing more attention to the suffragists, any support they could get made a difference overall benefiting them.
the cruel treatment of the suffragists in jail, the public knew it was wrong
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Famous picture depicting to public about treatment of women in prison
All of the hard work women suffragists had comitted themselves to would result in success and laws being changed in their favor. President Woodrow Wilson were successfully pressured by the women suffragists to give women throughout the nation the right to vote.The final result being in the NWP(National Womens Party) and NAWSA(National American Women Suffrage Association) when 2/3 vote from senate and house formed the 19th amendment as a part of the united states constitution stating in exact words: "The right of citizens of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." I was so excited when i found these exact words from the constitution on the Britannica public library site, it really clearly states the exact rights suffragists desired to reach their goal and they did it! I cant help but feel exhilarated when learning how so much effort and time is needed to make a change and just how big of a difference it makes. These brave women from these organizations that did hunger strikes, physically harming themselves to show their dedication and commitment resulted in their goals being succeeded. Without there impact us women today in 2012 would not be able to vote. So if i could go back in time i would congratulate and commemorate every suffragist that helped make something as common today as voting happen. Then i would feed them all lovely celebratory cake and have a grand feast for them!!!!!
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a picture of papers supporting women voting
The constitution officially stating women had the right to vote (19th amendment)
I LOVED learning about this subject it was exactly what i had wanted to learn about and hope to have similar topics in the near future. The whole event was so inspirational and really proves that hard work pays off and to never give up. The suffragists at the time knew they were doing something bigger than themselves and an strike that would change history forever! what was so amazing was the strength and will power of the women, i cannot see men at the time being so set on something to physically starve themselves. The hunger strike pursuits by suffragists determination truly changed american society forever.
so......................
WHO RUNS THE WORLD....?? GIRLS.
