american History In 1917, the U.S. went to war to save democracy in Europe. But in America, women could not vote. and other courageous suffragists campaigned to change that.

PROLOGUE Characters Narrator A: It’s 1913. Women have *Reporter been organizing for the right to Alice Paul, suffrage activist vote since the 1840s, but they’ve , suffrage activist won that right in only nine states. allowed to serve on juries, so Ruza Wenclawska, an immigrant Some suffrage leaders believe the they’re not tried by their peers. garment worker right to vote can be gradually won They don’t make the laws, yet they *Emily Leighton, wife of Senator Leighton state-by-state. But Alice Paul and have to obey them, like children. *Thomas Leighton, a U.S. Senator Lucy Burns aren’t willing to wait. Narrator C: That same day, Paul Carrie Chapman Catt, former president They want a constitutional and Burns urge workers at a of the National American Woman amendment giving women the vote clothing factory to take part in the Suffrage Association throughout the United States. They parade. , president of the United States go to Washington, D.C., to build Lucy Burns: A thousand women , suffrage activist support for their cause. marching means more than Whittaker, prison warden 10,000 signatures on a piece of *Judge SCENE 1 paper. Marching shows the Dr. White, prison doctor Narrator B: Paul and Burns plan a politicians that women are united Harry Burn, a Tennessee Representative protest parade for the weekend of in their demand for political Narrators A-E Woodrow Wilson’s presidential equality— *Indicates a fictional character. inauguration. Paul talks with a Narrator D: A worker interrupts. Adapted by Jonathan Blum from the HBO reporter to publicize the event. Ruza Wenclawska: If we take off screenplay of the same name. Reporter: What do you think from work on Sunday to march women will do when they can with you, we’ll get fired on Words to Know vote? Reform politics? Monday! You got kids, ma’am? Alice Paul: They’ll do good and They don’t eat ballots. • restitution (n): the act of giving bad things, just like men. The Paul: If you want a voice, you something equivalent for causing point is that women are called need the right to vote. an injury citizens, and yet they are taxed Narrator E: Wenclawska and the • suffrage (n): the right to vote without representation. They’re not other workers agree to march. That

1 Online-only play / JUNIOR SCHOLASTIC Lucy Burns and Alice Paul (right) campaigned for women’s suffrage. Below: Suffragists celebrate ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

week at a social gathering, Burns meets Emily Leighton, wife of a U.S. senator. Burns: Have you heard about our parade? Emily Leighton (smiling apologetically): I don’t really follow politics, Miss Burns. I haven’t the head for it. Burns: Either we’re citizens or we’re property. You don’t need a college degree to understand that. amendment—and rejects it. turning its back on women. Narrator A: Inauguration weekend Senator Thomas Leighton goes Paul (reading her writing out loud arrives. Protesters carry banners home to his family. to herself): Rarely in the history of along Pennsylvania Avenue. As Emily Leighton (hesitantly): Why the country has a party been more President Wilson’s car drives by, a did the Senate reject the powerful than the Democratic minor riot breaks out. Police do not amendment? Party is today. It controls the protect the protesters. One hundred Thomas Leighton (teasing): Executive Office, the Senate, and women are injured. News coverage Because we know you ladies have the House of Representatives. It is increases public sympathy for the your hands full with the kids in a position to give us effective su