How to Use the Images

Photo 2: “Russian” Banner, June 1917

(Courtesy of the National Woman’s Party Collection, the Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, Washington, D.C.; Harris and Ewing, photographer)

Photo 3: Man Attacking “Russian” Banner, June 1917

(Courtesy of the National Woman’s Party Collection, the Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, Washington, D.C.; Harris and Ewing, photographer)

Questions for Photos 2 and 3

1. Read the text of the banner carefully and summarize what it says in your own words. Look up the definition of democracy. Do you agree that America was not a democracy because it did not allow women to vote?

2. The women thought that preaching democracy abroad while denying half of the population the right to vote at home was hypocrisy. Do you think they were right? Explain your answers.

3. Bystanders tore the original banner down as soon as it appeared. Why do you think people were so angry about it?

4. National Woman’s Party members soon returned with identical banners. Why do you think they would picket with the same banner when they knew what had happened to the first one?

5. What appears to be happening in Photo 3? How do the women holding the banner seem to be reacting? Why do you think the photo is so fuzzy?

6. Do you think the First Amendment protects banners like this? Why or why not? Which section of the amendment do you think applies?

Click for a larger version of Photo 2 and Photo 3.

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