Women's Suffrage Parade

About

The Woman Suffrage Parade, held on March 3, 1913, in Washington, D.C., was a pivotal event in the fight for women's right to vote. Organized by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns for the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), it was the first large, organized march on Washington for political purposes. The parade featured between 5,000 and 10,000 marchers, including floats, bands, and groups representing various professions and roles. It aimed to maximize publicity by coinciding with President Woodrow Wilson's inauguration. The parade showcased themes of beauty, femininity, and traditional roles to counter anti-suffrage sentiments. It included floats from countries where women had voting rights and depicted historical scenes from the suffrage movement. The event was significant as it set a precedent for future protests and kept the issue in the media spotlight. It played a crucial role in galvanizing the suffrage movement, contributing to the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote in the United States.