Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage facts for kids
Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage pin, c. 1914–1917
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| Abbreviation | CU or CUWS |
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| Formation | April 1913 |
| Dissolved | 1916 |
| Type | NGO |
| Purpose | "To secure an amendment to the United States Constitution enfranchising women" and to pass the ERA |
| Headquarters | Washington, DC |
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Key people
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Alice Paul, Lucy Burns |
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Formerly called
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National American Woman Suffrage Association Congressional Committee |
The Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage (CUWS) was an American group. It started in 1913. Alice Paul and Lucy Burns led this organization. Their main goal was to get a new rule, called a constitutional amendment. This amendment would give all women the right to vote.
Alice Paul and Lucy Burns were inspired by the suffragette movement in the United Kingdom. They had both been part of it. The CUWS worked hard to get attention from lawmakers. In 1914, they helped bring the idea of women's voting rights to a vote in Congress for the first time in many years.
Contents
How the Union Started
Alice Paul first created the Congressional Union (CU) after joining the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). She became a leader of NAWSA's Congressional Committee. The CU was meant to help this committee. Its leaders were also part of the committee.
The CU and NAWSA shared the same goal. They both wanted a change to the U.S. Constitution. This change would give all women the right to vote. At first, the CU worked with NAWSA. They wanted to make the Congressional Committee stronger.
In March 1913, the CU realized how much work was needed. They decided to manage their own activities and money. But they still worked with NAWSA. Later in 1913, Carrie Chapman Catt of NAWSA had some concerns about the CU. She later said her concerns were not correct. The two groups had different ways of working. NAWSA's leaders felt worried. In December 1913, NAWSA chose a new committee. They officially stopped working with the Congressional Union.
New Ways to Fight for Rights
The Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage attracted many young women. They had a fresh way to fight for women's voting rights. This new approach came from the British suffragettes.
Alice Paul believed women should not have to beg for their rights. She brought some of the strong methods used by the Women's Social and Political Union in Britain to the CU. These methods included direct actions. They organized huge public demonstrations. They also protested daily outside the White House.
By 1914, the CU had 4,500 members. They had also raised over $50,000 to support their work. Over time, many members were arrested for their efforts. Some were even sent to prison.
How the Union Was Organized
The main office of the Congressional Union was in Washington, D.C. It was on F Street, close to the Willard Hotel. They chose a very visible office and paid for it themselves.
They started "suffrage schools" for women. These schools helped spread awareness about their cause. They also held many meetings every day. The CU did not organize by states or districts. However, they had different branches in several states. The Washington office was key to their work. But they also traveled a lot.
The CU published its own newspaper called The Suffragist. This newspaper featured articles by important members. These included Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Inez Milholland. The newspaper also had Nina Allender as its main cartoonist. Other artists like Cornelia Barns and Boardman Robinson also drew for it.
Campaigning for Change
The Congressional Union worked hard to get a constitutional amendment. This amendment would give all women the right to vote. They used methods from British suffragettes. The CU blamed the main political party for not moving the amendment forward.
At that time, the Democratic Party was the main party. Woodrow Wilson was the Democratic president. CU members traveled to western states. They campaigned against Democrats there. They hoped to stop them from being re-elected. They even campaigned against Democrats who supported women's voting rights. Other groups, like NAWSA, criticized this.
The CU members traveled across the west by train. They used many ways to be seen and heard. Their speeches at train stops got attention from reporters. Their campaign led to 20 Democrats who supported suffrage losing their elections. This upset NAWSA very much.
Becoming the National Woman's Party
The Congressional Union created the National Woman's Party (NWP) in 1916. This happened at a meeting in Chicago. Members of the Congressional Union joined the new party. Alice Paul was in charge of the NWP. A special Campaign Committee was formed within the party. Anne Martin was its chairman.
In 1917, the two groups officially joined together. They became the National Woman's Party (NWP). Alice Paul was elected as their chairman. After the 19th Amendment was passed, the NWP started a new long campaign. They worked to get the Equal Rights Amendment passed.
Continuing the Fight for Equal Rights
In 1981, a group of women formed a new organization. They called it the Congressional Union. This group included Mary Ann Beall and Sonia Johnson. They wanted to keep fighting for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). These women were inspired by the original suffragists. Sonia Johnson wrote in her book that they took the name and ideas from Alice Paul and Lucy Burns' group. In June 1982, this new Congressional Union held an event at the National Archives. It was to mark the ERA's journey.
This organization later split. A new group, called A Group of Women, was formed by some of its members, including Sonia Johnson.
Notable members
See also
- List of suffragists and suffragettes
- Timeline of women's suffrage
- Women's suffrage organizations
