National Woman's Party
The Official Flag of the National Woman's Party
The National Woman's Party (NWP,) also known as simply the Woman's Party, was founded by the Congressional Union (CU) in 1916. Anne Martin from Nevada became the first chairperson. In 1917, the two organizations combined and became one big NWP. Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and many other women were involved in this organization as they fought for suffrage and women's rights.
These actions included meeting with presidential candidates and picketing national conventions. They also published weekly newspapers such as Equal Rights and The Suffragist, which included information about feminist causes and events. In The Suffragist, one article from 1941 said, "The woman who reads our paper will be informed as to happenings in Congress, not only suffrage happenings, although they come first, but all proceedings of special interest to women. Men do not realize how serious are the changes that are taking place in the conduct of Congress. Women will have to inform them. Only in the pages of The Suffragist will you find the information you need."
These actions included meeting with presidential candidates and picketing national conventions. They also published weekly newspapers such as Equal Rights and The Suffragist, which included information about feminist causes and events. In The Suffragist, one article from 1941 said, "The woman who reads our paper will be informed as to happenings in Congress, not only suffrage happenings, although they come first, but all proceedings of special interest to women. Men do not realize how serious are the changes that are taking place in the conduct of Congress. Women will have to inform them. Only in the pages of The Suffragist will you find the information you need."
On January 10, 1917, the NWP began to picket at the White House. This group of women was called the Silent Sentinels. At first they were not taken seriously, and President Wilson simply waved to them as his car entered the gate. However, after keeping the press intrigued for a few months and World War I began, President Wilson no longer tolerated this business. It was then viewed as unpatriotic, and many people disapproved.
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In June 1917, these women began to be arrested for obstructing traffic. In prison, they faced physical punishment and filthy conditions. In November, while still imprisoned at the Occaquan Workhouse, many NWP members began a trend called the Hunger Strike. Even though food and water was provided to them, they refused to eat, starving themselves. They had to be force-fed through tubes to keep them alive. Through all of this, many women continued to fight and risk everything for this organization On account on never giving up, Alice Paul, leader of the hunger strike, said,