Before the early 1900s women were not allowed to own property, receive inheritance, get paid a decent wage, or vote. Their image in society was distorted and uncalled for. They were supposed to be quiet and do what they were told. Alice Paul and the National Women's Party recognized this and devoted their lives to making a change in the status quo of women. They went for what they believed in and built the foundation for women's rights and equality in America.
Alice Paul, born January 11, 1985 in New Jersey, was the founder of the National Woman's Party and greatest women's suffragist of all times. She was strong-willed in her blood, because she was the descendant of a Quaker that was killed because he would not give up his faith. She was very well educated as she graduated from Columbia University and received a Master's Degree and a PhD at Pennsylvania University. She was a determined suffragist with her mind set on equality.
In 1909 Miss Paul joined the National American Women's Suffrage Association (NAWSA). They strived for Woman's voting rights. But after Susan B. Anthony's death in 1906, NAWSA's efforts were becoming less and less successful. They remained quiet and only communicated on a state government level. Alice Paul and her companion, Lucy Burns began to conflict with the rest of NAWSA because they thought they needed to be louder and less sustained. She said they simply must demand rights, not ask for them. NAWSA thought that decent women would be quiet and sustained about it. To end the disputes, Alice and Lucy started the Congressional Committee (CC) in 1913, which would cover the federal government for NAWSA and their efforts would be more abrupt and commanding. Alice was chairman and Lucy was co-chairman. On March 3 of 1913, the day before Woodrow's inauguration, Alice Paul led a march of 8000 women in costumes from the capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue.
