State Historical Society of Iowa

"Kaiser Wilson" Image of Virginia Arnold 1917

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, "Kaiser Wilson" Image of Virginia Arnold 1917

Description

In an attempt to gain support for the war effort, some suffrage groups moderated their calls for the right to vote. However, throughout the conflict, the National Woman's Party (NWP) continued to place securing women's voting rights at the top of its agenda. The first picketing of the White House took place in January 1917, when NWP members endured physical abuse, insults, and legal action for their actions. Dozens of members were detained and imprisoned in the fall. Suffragettes like Virginia Arnold raised awareness of the cause by transforming Woodrow Wilson's vocal support for self-government into a criticism of the president and his resistance to a constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote. Wilson had originally stated that the states should make the final decision about women's voting rights.

Source Dependent Questions

  • What values did Virginia Arnold highlight as being dismissed in the United States? How did she use Wilson's words to point out the hypocrisy of U.S. actions? Use evidence from Wilson's speech and the photographed banner.
  • Consider the laws passed during World War I and speeches given by political leaders. What justification was given for these actions as disloyal by the National Women's Party viewed as disloyal?

Citation Information

Virginia Arnold with "Kaiser Wilson" banner August 14, 1917. National Woman's Party Records, Manuscript. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress