Edith Ainge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edith M. Ainge
Born	Mary E. Ainge 1873
Died	1948
Other names	Aingy
Known for	Suffragist

Edith M. Ainge (1873–1948) was an American woman who worked hard for women's right to vote. People who fought for this right were called suffragists. She was also part of a group called the Silent Sentinels.

Edith Ainge joined the National Woman's Party (NWP). This group was led by Alice Paul. Their main goal was to get the 19th Amendment passed. This important law would give women across the United States the right to vote. The 19th Amendment was finally approved in 1920. Edith Ainge was arrested about five times for protesting peacefully. This happened between September 1917 and January 1919. She later became the treasurer for the NWP.

Fighting for the Right to Vote

Working in New York State

In 1915, Edith Ainge worked to help women get the right to vote in New York state. She helped organize a big event called "The Torch of Liberty." Suffragists from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania took part. They held events to get more people involved. They also wanted to raise money for the movement. These events helped spread awareness about why women should vote.

Protesting for National Voting Rights

After working in New York, Edith Ainge moved to Washington D.C. She wanted to help women get the right to vote across the whole country.

The Night of Terror

On November 10, 1917, Edith Ainge and Eleanor Calnan were among 33 women arrested. They were protesting peacefully in front of the White House. Sixty-eight suffragists were there to support the 19th Amendment. Ainge and Calnan held a sign that asked, "How Long Must Woman Be Denied a Voice in a Government Which is Conscripting Their Sons?"

Edith Ainge and other suffragists were sent to jail for 60 days. This happened at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia. They were arrested for "unlawful assembly." This means they were protesting in a way the authorities said was against the rules. Edith Ainge was kept by herself. Many of the women arrested faced very harsh treatment. This event later became known as the "Night of Terror."

More Protests and Arrests

Arrest in 1918

Edith Ainge was arrested again on August 15, 1918. This happened when she was protesting in Lafayette Square.

Watch Fire Demonstration in 1919

In 1919, another protest took place in Lafayette Square. It was called the Watch Fire Demonstration. Members of the NWP burned copies of President Woodrow Wilson's speeches. They did this in special urns as a symbol of their protest. Edith Ainge was the first to light her urn. The women, including Edith Ainge, were arrested again.

About Edith Ainge's Life

Edith Ainge was born in England. She moved to the United States as a child in 1884. Her parents, William and Susan Ainge, had ten children in total.