The historic women’s suffrage march on Washington - Michelle Mehrtens

Summary

On March 3, 1913, Inez Milholland led the Women’s Suffrage Parade in Washington, D.C., highlighting the long struggle for women's voting rights. Despite limited success in the past, suffragists like Alice Paul pushed for a constitutional amendment. The parade faced violent opposition, but its media coverage propelled the movement forward. Notable figures, including Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Mary Church Terrell, defied racial segregation and marched proudly. While Milholland didn’t live to see the victory, her efforts helped pave the way for the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote.

Takeaways

• 😀 On March 3, 1913, Inez Milholland led the Women’s Suffrage Parade in Washington D.C., dressed in white and riding a white horse.
• 😀 The 1913 parade was the first large-scale, national protest advocating for women's right to vote in the U.S.
• 😀 Alice Paul, inspired by British suffragettes, organized the parade to push for a constitutional amendment for women's voting rights.
• 😀 Women’s suffrage activists had been campaigning for decades, but had little success since 1896 when Utah and Idaho enfranchised women.
• 😀 Alice Paul’s strategy focused on a national, media-savvy campaign rather than state-by-state efforts.
• 😀 Despite initial opposition, Paul secured approval for the parade, strategically scheduling it to coincide with President Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration.
• 😀 The parade’s organizers predominantly focused on appealing to white women, but black women like Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Mary Church Terrell participated, defying racial exclusion.
• 😀 During the march, participants faced violent opposition from a hostile crowd, with over 100 women hospitalized from physical assaults.
• 😀 The violent treatment of the marchers, widely covered in the media, garnered sympathy and furthered the suffrage cause.
• 😀 Though Inez Milholland died in 1916, her contributions were pivotal, and her death raised awareness for the suffrage movement.
• 😀 The 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was ratified in 1920, though full suffrage inclusion would take decades to achieve.

Q & A

Who was Inez Milholland, and why was she significant in the Women's Suffrage Parade of 1913?

Inez Milholland was an activist and suffragist who led the Women's Suffrage Parade of 1913, riding at the helm on a white horse. She was a powerful symbol of the suffrage movement and helped draw attention to the cause of women's voting rights, despite the challenges and opposition the movement faced.

What was the main goal of the Women's Suffrage Parade in Washington D.C. in 1913?

The main goal of the Women's Suffrage Parade was to call for a constitutional amendment that would grant women the right to vote. It was the first mass protest for women's suffrage on a national scale, aiming to generate public and political support for women's voting rights.

How did Alice Paul contribute to the Women's Suffrage movement?

Alice Paul played a significant role in revitalizing the Women's Suffrage movement by organizing the 1913 parade. Inspired by British suffragettes, she sought a nationwide constitutional amendment for women's suffrage rather than state-by-state campaigns. Her strategic planning and media-savvy approach helped bring attention to the movement.

What was Alice Paul's controversial stance regarding African American participation in the 1913 parade?

Alice Paul controversially discouraged African American activists and organizations from participating in the parade and suggested they march at the back if they insisted on participating. This exclusionary stance reflected racial tensions within the suffrage movement.

How did African American women respond to Alice Paul's exclusionary stance?

African American women, such as Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Mary Church Terrell, refused to be relegated to the back of the parade. Wells-Barnett marched proudly under the Illinois banner, while Terrell participated alongside the founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, demonstrating the resilience of Black women in the suffrage movement despite racial hostility.

What was the significance of the 1913 Women's Suffrage Parade in terms of public awareness?

The parade was a turning point in raising public awareness about women's suffrage. The violent and hostile response from a mob, which resulted in over 100 women being hospitalized, was widely reported and led to national outrage. This increased sympathy for suffragists' cause and put pressure on lawmakers.

How did the police respond to the violence during the 1913 Women's Suffrage Parade?

The police failed to intervene when a mob physically assaulted the marchers, tossing insults, cigars, and even spitting at the participants. The lack of police action and the resulting injuries to the women drew significant public criticism and heightened awareness about the suffrage movement.

What was the public reaction to the mistreatment of women during the 1913 parade?

The mistreatment of women during the parade was widely condemned in national newspapers, which labeled the event a disgrace to Washington. This public outcry led to Congressional hearings to investigate the police response and significantly boosted support for the women's suffrage movement.

What were Inez Milholland's final contributions to the suffrage movement before her death?

Inez Milholland continued to campaign for women's suffrage across the United States despite suffering from chronic health issues. She collapsed while giving a suffrage speech in 1916 and died soon after. Her final words, 'Mr. President, how long must women wait for liberty?', became a poignant symbol of the struggle for women's rights.

How did the Women's Suffrage Parade contribute to the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920?

The 1913 Women's Suffrage Parade helped ignite a surge of public support for women's voting rights. Despite ongoing challenges, suffragists maintained pressure on lawmakers through rallies, petitions, and activism, ultimately leading to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote.