Alice Paul: Women's Suffrage

The tedious battle of equal rights for women in the 20th century lasted nearly one hundred years. (“Alice Paul: Feminist, Suffragist, and Political Strategist”) Many important women made significant impressions in this overcoming this struggle. Women’s suffrage, or their right to vote, was a concept that was fought for by a multitude of dedicated individuals. Alice Paul was a women’s rights activist who utilized her determination, education, courage, and persistence to make an everlasting impact on society. She was one of the few women who had the audacity to stand up for what she believed in. Alice Paul had one of the most powerful influences on women’s role in society not only in the United States, but also around the world. The longing for women’s suffrage began before the Civil War, and even before Alice Paul was …show more content…
It was founded by Quakers. Therefore, her grandfather, Judge William Parry, took part in founding Swarthmore College in 1864. Tacie, her mother, promised William that all of her children would take classes there at the very least. (“Alice Paul: Feminist, Suffragist, and Political Strategist”) When Alice enrolled at the college, she proved that she had courage to do things out of her comfort zone. She decided to take classes that were science related, because that’s the area she knew least about. (Lunardini 4) There, she was taught by a few of the significant female academics. One in particular, was her math professor. Her name was Susan Cunningham and she was the first woman in the American Mathematics Association. Alice remembered her saying “Use thy gumption.” (“Alice Paul: Feminist, Suffragist, and Political Strategist”) Gumption is defined as courage or initiative. (“Dictionary.com”) It is obvious that Susan was also courageous and may have been an influence in Alice’s life. Her words may have motivated Alice in her time as a women’s right’s