Anna Howard Shaw: an Iconic Social Reformer
Anna Howard Shaw once said, “‘Nothing bigger can come to a human being than to love a great cause more than life itself’’’ (National Women’s 1). Shaw believed in this quote and devoted her life to furthering the causes she believed in. Anna Howard Shaw was a minister, physician, suffragette, and world peace advocate. She dedicated her life to social reform and promoting the advancement of women. Historical icon Anna Howard Shaw is a complicated figure; in order to understand her and her importance in American society, one must understand her upbringing, critics’ views on her, and her impact and importance. Anna Howard Shaw had a difficult upbringing. She was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United …show more content…
Shaw was a belligerent person who often offended her peers but she was also intelligent and tough (Encyclopedia 1). Shaw’s wit and hot temper are undoubtedly what made her such a wonderful speaker and enabled her to stand up for what she believed in unfailingly. A majority of Shaw’s career was spent working towards women’s suffrage. She was a colleague of Susan B. Anthony and the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) for 11 years. She often delivered moving and influential speeches on behalf of women’s suffrage, but was an ineffective president because she could not coordinate national campaigns, so she stepped down (Encyclopedia 1). This shows that Shaw put the movement’s best interests above her own. She gave up an influential position to spend more time making speeches and using her strengths to further the women’s suffrage movement. After stepping down from NAWSA, Shaw lead the Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense during World War I, and became the first woman to be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal from congress for her work there. Later she went on a national peace tour on behalf of the League of Nations (Gordon 2). This shows that Shaw was not only loyal to societal reform movements but also to America. She used her gifts to promote peace and help the nation. Through her personality and career, Anna Howard Shaw set an example of a strong woman who fights for her values and the improvement of
Anna Howard Shaw once said, “‘Nothing bigger can come to a human being than to love a great cause more than life itself’’’ (National Women’s 1). Shaw believed in this quote and devoted her life to furthering the causes she believed in. Anna Howard Shaw was a minister, physician, suffragette, and world peace advocate. She dedicated her life to social reform and promoting the advancement of women. Historical icon Anna Howard Shaw is a complicated figure; in order to understand her and her importance in American society, one must understand her upbringing, critics’ views on her, and her impact and importance. Anna Howard Shaw had a difficult upbringing. She was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United …show more content…
Shaw was a belligerent person who often offended her peers but she was also intelligent and tough (Encyclopedia 1). Shaw’s wit and hot temper are undoubtedly what made her such a wonderful speaker and enabled her to stand up for what she believed in unfailingly. A majority of Shaw’s career was spent working towards women’s suffrage. She was a colleague of Susan B. Anthony and the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) for 11 years. She often delivered moving and influential speeches on behalf of women’s suffrage, but was an ineffective president because she could not coordinate national campaigns, so she stepped down (Encyclopedia 1). This shows that Shaw put the movement’s best interests above her own. She gave up an influential position to spend more time making speeches and using her strengths to further the women’s suffrage movement. After stepping down from NAWSA, Shaw lead the Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense during World War I, and became the first woman to be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal from congress for her work there. Later she went on a national peace tour on behalf of the League of Nations (Gordon 2). This shows that Shaw was not only loyal to societal reform movements but also to America. She used her gifts to promote peace and help the nation. Through her personality and career, Anna Howard Shaw set an example of a strong woman who fights for her values and the improvement of