Name
Date
Period
Iron Jawed Angels
SUFFRAGE: THE RIGHT TO VOTE
SUFFRAGISTS: THOSE THAT FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Iron Jawed Angels tells the story of Alice Paul (Hilary Swank) and Lucy Burns (Frances O’Conner) who break from
the mainstream women’s-rights movement and create a more radical wing, daring to push the boundaries of political
protest. Nine states have given women the right to vote, but Alice and Lucy want to make an amendment to the
Constitution to allow women the right to vote. They are spit upon, arrested, and starved but they don’t stop fighting!
DIRECTIONS: READ THE QUICK SUMMARIES AND GUIDES FOR EACH SECTION, AND RESPOND TO WHAT YOU SEE.
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How does it make you feel?
Do you think the people made good/bad
decisions?
What do you notice about the time period
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What are you confused about
Were you aware that events occurred that
way?
What surprised you?
 When the film starts, Alice and Lucy join the National Association Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) led by
Carrie Chapman Catt (Angelica Huston). They plan to hold a parade to give suffrage the attention it needs. They
need to find women to fight for the vote, and go to a factory to find women to fight with them. Notice that they
talk about a fire in New York – that’s the Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire!
 Alice Paul has to make a decision whether to allow African American Women the right to march with them at their
parade, since the South will drop out of the parade if they do.
 Alice and Lucy go to a fundraiser to gain support for suffrage. They meet a senator’s wife, Emily Leighton. Lucy
tells her that women are either citizens or “chattel” meaning property. Alice observes Inez Mulholland debating
with Ben Weisman about women’s rights. They go to a bar and they discuss how everyone thinks about Carry
Nation when they think about Suffragists. Alice convinces Inez to join their cause.
 Alice’s desk was once owned by Susan B. Anthony – she was the original champion for women’s rights.
 The suffrage parade goes through Washington DC, our nation’s capital. Notice how the women dress, the signs
they carry, and how different people react to the parade. How do women and children react? How do men
react? Alice and Lucy walk with the women that have college degrees – they have their doctorates! That’s
Woodrow Wilson arriving to Washington DC for the first time.
 Alice and Lucy go to see the older Suffragists to discuss how the parade went. Carrie Chapman Catt is angry with
how the parade went. Alice and Lucy want to go see the President while they still have the attention of the press.
Woodrow Wilson says that it isn’t time to fight for suffrage. He asks them for patience.
 After they see a movie, the women go to talk to congressmen. They hope to convince the men to vote for suffrage.
**Edited for Content** The senators vote down the suffrage amendment because they thought women had their
hands full at home
 Alice and Lucy create a newspaper to convince women to fight for the right to vote. They say that women should
boycott – or not vote for – Woodrow Wilson to get their way. Alice tries to get Ben Weisman to write an article
about their cause. He wants a date first!
 Emily Leighton, the senator’s wife, comes in to make a donation, but Alice gets her to type instead. Alice tries to
get her to join the movement. She tells her that she is worse than an anti-suffragists because she “perpetuates the
lie” meaning that her life makes others think that the only thing women can do is be mothers.
 Alice Paul speaks in front of the NAWSA women and they ask why she hasn’t given any of the money they have
raised to NAWSA. This is really to make Alice Paul and Lucy Burns go away. Alice and Lucy decide to break
apart and create their own group.
Using your notes, describe what you saw in the film, the suffrage movement, and your reaction to it.
Type II
Mrs. Young
AMC ______ PD _____
____October 2011
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