Alice Paul and the American Suffrage Campaign

by Katherine H. Adams, Michael L. Keene

Past biographies, histories, and government documents have ignored Alice Paul's contribution to the women's suffrage movement, but this groundbreaking study scrupulously fills the gap in the historical record. Masterfully framed by an analysis of Paul's nonviolent and visual rhetorical strategies, Alice Paul and the American Suffrage Campaign narrates the remarkable story of the first person to picket the White House, the first to attempt a national political boycott, the first to burn the president in effigy, and the first to lead a successful campaign of nonviolence. Katherine H. Adams and Michael L. Keene also chronicle other dramatic techniques that Paul deftly used to gain publicity for the suffrage movement. Stunningly woven into the narrative are accounts of many instances in which women were in physical danger. Rather than avoid discussion of Paul's imprisonment, hunger strikes, and forced feeding, the authors divulge the strategies she employed in her campaign. Paul's controversial approach, the authors assert, was essential in changing American attitudes toward suffrage.

Genres: Feminism, Biography, History, Nonfiction, School, Social Justice

296 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2007

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Class reading. This one was a close study of Paul's involvement in the Suffrage Movement between 1912 and 1920, basically. Parts of the book were interesting, but overall, it was much more information than I wanted to know. I had trouble maintaining my interest and was grateful when it was finished.

There is a movie, HBO - I think - Iron-Jawed Angels(?), that recounts the story of Paul. I would like to see that. It would be more entertaining and informational.

[Breena Welker Jenson]

My recent viewing of HBO's "Iron-jawed Angels" has prompted me to look for books about Alice Paul and other post-Susan B. Anthony/Elizabeth Cady Stanton American suffragists. Any other recommendations on the topic would be appreciated.

[Vidisha]

Alice Paul
born Jan 11 1885 - July 9 1977
It has been almost a century since Alice Paul was imprisoned .