Night of Terror (1917)

Night of Terror (1917) was a pivotal event in the history of the United States women's suffrage movement, led by prominent figures such as Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Inez Milholland. The event involved the brutal treatment of National Woman's Party (NWP) members, including Dora Lewis, Alison Turnbull Hopkins, and Eunice Dana Brannan, at the hands of United States Marshals Service and Occoquan Workhouse authorities, with connections to the Wilson administration and its stance on women's suffrage, as well as the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. This incident drew widespread attention and support from notable individuals like Eleanor Roosevelt, Jane Addams, and Emily Balch, and organizations such as the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the International Committee of Women for Permanent Peace.

● Introduction

The Night of Terror was a culmination of the efforts of the NWP, which had been actively protesting in front of the White House, led by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, to push for the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, with support from other notable suffragists like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth. The event was also influenced by the broader social and political context of the time, including the Russian Revolution of 1917, the United States' entry into World War I, and the Bolshevik Revolution, which drew parallels with the struggles of women like Rosa Luxemburg and Clara Zetkin. The NWP's protests and picketing, which began in January 1917, were met with resistance from the Wilson administration, leading to the arrest and imprisonment of many suffragists, including Mary Church Terrell, Ida B. Wells, and Carrie Chapman Catt. The Night of Terror was a turning point in the suffrage movement, as it brought national attention to the cause and galvanized support from prominent figures like Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Eugene Debs.

● Background

The women's suffrage movement in the United States had been gaining momentum in the early 20th century, with organizations like the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the National Woman's Party (NWP) leading the charge, alongside notable figures like Harriet Tubman, Frances Willard, and Ida Tarbell. The NWP, founded by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns in 1916, was a more radical organization that employed tactics like picketing and civil disobedience to draw attention to the cause, inspired by the methods of Emmeline Pankhurst and the Suffragettes in the United Kingdom. The NWP's protests in front of the White House began in January 1917, with women like Inez Milholland, Dora Lewis, and Alison Turnbull Hopkins participating, and were met with resistance from the Wilson administration, which was focused on the United States' entry into World War I and the Home Front efforts, including the work of the Committee on Public Information and the War Industries Board. The arrests and imprisonment of suffragists, including Eunice Dana Brannan and Mary Nolan, further galvanized the movement, with support from organizations like the American Union Against Militarism and the Women's Peace Party.

● The

Night of Terror On November 15, 1917, a group of NWP members, including Dora Lewis, Alison Turnbull Hopkins, and Eunice Dana Brannan, were arrested and taken to the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia, where they were subjected to brutal treatment at the hands of the authorities, with connections to the United States Marshals Service and the Wilson administration. The women were beaten, kicked, and dragged across the floor, with some being thrown into dark cells and left without food or water, in conditions similar to those experienced by Eugene Debs and other Socialist Party of America members. The event was widely publicized, with newspapers like the New York Times and the Washington Post covering the story, and drew condemnation from prominent figures like Eleanor Roosevelt, Jane Addams, and Emily Balch, as well as organizations like the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the International Committee of Women for Permanent Peace. The Night of Terror marked a turning point in the suffrage movement, as it brought national attention to the cause and galvanized support from across the country, including from notable figures like Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Clarence Darrow.

● Aftermath

The Night of Terror had a significant impact on the women's suffrage movement, as it brought national attention to the cause and galvanized support from prominent figures like Eleanor Roosevelt, Jane Addams, and Emily Balch, as well as organizations like the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the International Committee of Women for Permanent Peace. The event also led to increased pressure on the Wilson administration to support the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, with connections to the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution and the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution. In 1918, Woodrow Wilson announced his support for women's suffrage, and the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by Congress in 1919, with the help of notable figures like Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul. The amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920, granting women the right to vote, and marking a major milestone in the history of the United States women's suffrage movement, alongside other notable events like the Seneca Falls Convention and the Women's Loyal National League.

● Legacy

The Night of Terror is remembered as a pivotal event in the history of the United States women's suffrage movement, led by prominent figures like Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Inez Milholland. The event drew attention to the brutal treatment of suffragists and galvanized support for the cause, with connections to the broader social and political context of the time, including the Russian Revolution of 1917, the United States' entry into World War I, and the Bolshevik Revolution. The Night of Terror also marked a turning point in the movement, as it brought national attention to the cause and led to increased pressure on the Wilson administration to support the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, with support from notable figures like Theodore Roosevelt, Eugene Debs, and Clarence Darrow. Today, the Night of Terror is remembered as a testament to the courage and determination of the women who fought for their right to vote, including Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth, and is commemorated by organizations like the National Woman's Party (NWP) and the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), alongside other notable events like the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Women's March on Washington. Category:Women's suffrage in the United States