The source I have chosen is a photograph from 1917 that accurately depicts the Woman’s Suffrage Movement. The photograph is titled “Woman Suffrage Banners,” and was taken by Harris and Ewing. During 1917, the United States of America had just entered the First World War. The photograph I have selected showcases a woman standing next to a banner stating, “Kaiser Wilson; Have you forgotten your sympathy with the poor Germans because they were not self-governed? 20,00,000 American women are not self-governed. Take the beam out of your own eye.”((Ewing, and Harris, “Woman Suffrage Banners.” (Library of Congress,1917).))

The writing on the poster depicted in the photograph is important to take note of. The suffragist shown in the picture compares President Woodrow Wilson to Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. During this time Wilson showed great concern for the Germans, as he claimed they were unable to govern themselves. Due to this, Wilson stated that the United States should aid Germany during this time.((David Shi Emory, America: A Narrative History (W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2022).)) The irony of this point of view is apparent because President Wilson showed no concern or sympathy for the millions of women in his own country. Millions of women were unable to vote, and Wilson looked over that entirely.((Ewing and Harris, “Woman Suffrage Banners.”))

The Woman’s Suffrage Movement gained traction when President William Howard Taft agreed to speak at the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1910. This was a pivotal point in history as President Taft was the first President to not only speak, but acknowledge woman’s suffrage. However, his speech did not have the effects that women hoped for. Instead of spreading the message of the importance of a woman’s right to vote, he discussed controversial topics that planted seeds of doubt in those who supported this movement.((Leslie J. Harris, and Kathryn M. Olson. “The Problem of Woman Suffrage: The Rhetorical Traps of Conditional Citizenship (Rhetoric & Public Affairs, Winter 2021) 582.)) During this speech, Taft claimed that the idea of women’s suffrage brought about new issues regarding citizenship, racism, and class.((Ibid, 582-83.))

Furthermore, Taft acknowledged his racial bias and prejudice, stating that by allowing woman the right to vote, black women would also be given this right.((Ibid, 592.)) It is important to note that people of color, especially African American women had a significantly harder time gaining the right to vote. Black women such as Mary Church Terrell came together to form an organization known as the National Federation of Afro-American Women. The main purpose of this organization was to progress and maximize their efforts for suffrage for African Americans.((Angela P. Dodson,  “From Start to Finish: African Americans in the Woman Suffrage Movement”(Torch, Fall 2022) 11–13.))

The National American Woman Suffrage Association came together in 1913, before President Wilson’s inauguration. They planned to march in protest for women’s suffrage. However, the leader of this organization, Alice Paul was used to deny Black people from joining. This is ironic, because even though millions of women were fighting for their right to vote, they were ready to deny the very right to African American women and individuals. However, Alice Paul allowed African Americans to march in this protest. It is important to note though, that she did not publicize their presence as she knew that this would cause the majority of white suffragists to refuse to come.((Ibid, 14.))

Alice Paul founded the organization, the National Women’s Party, which was different than the initial movement, the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Alice Paul’s intention for her movement was to reach Congress in order to make a Constitutional Amendment. However, the National American Woman Suffrage Association believed that woman’s suffrage could be attained on a state-by-state level. This major difference between the two altered the effectiveness and overall picture of each organization.((Debra Michals,“Alice Paul” (National Women’s History Museum).))

One tool that aided individuals during this movement were suffrage maps. These maps were shaded in certain ways, and marked in a manner that depicted the places where white women could legally vote.((Tiffany Lewis, “Mapping Social Movements and Leveraging the U.S. West: The Rhetoric of the Woman Suffrage Map” (Women’s Studies in Communication, 2019) 490.)) These maps gave authority and legitimacy to this movement, and allowed individuals to see a tangible impact that was occurring.((Ibid, 505.)) The maps in this article showcased how from 1909 to 1916 many western states slowly allowed women to vote. For example, in 1909, only Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Idaho allowed for women to vote. However, by 1916, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Illinois, Kansas, and Colorado granted women the right of suffrage.((Ibid, 498.))