Which amendment did Alice Paul promote to end gender discrimination? The answer is the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. This amendment, which was ratified on August 18, 1920, granted women the right to vote, marking a significant milestone in the fight for gender equality in the United States.
Alice Paul, an American suffragist and women’s rights activist, played a pivotal role in the movement to secure women’s voting rights. Born on January 11, 1885, in Moorestown, New Jersey, Paul was deeply influenced by her mother, who was an ardent advocate for women’s rights. In 1907, Paul traveled to England to study at Newnham College, part of the University of Cambridge, where she became involved in the British suffragette movement.
Returning to the United States in 1910, Paul joined the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and worked to promote women’s voting rights. However, she became disillusioned with the organization’s moderate approach and, in 1913, co-founded the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage (CUWS), later renamed the National Woman’s Party (NWP). The NWP adopted a more aggressive strategy, including picketing the White House and engaging in civil disobedience.
The 19th Amendment was the culmination of years of advocacy and activism by Alice Paul and her fellow suffragists. The amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878 but faced significant opposition. It was not until 1919 that the amendment finally passed both houses of Congress, and it was ratified by the required number of states in 1920.
Alice Paul’s unwavering dedication to the cause of women’s voting rights earned her a place in history. She continued to advocate for women’s rights throughout her life, fighting for issues such as equal pay, reproductive rights, and the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Paul passed away on July 9, 1977, but her legacy lives on through the continued struggle for gender equality and the recognition of the 19th Amendment as a crucial step in the fight for women’s rights in the United States.
