Lucy Burns

Lucy Burns 1913 (cropped)

American suffragist and women's rights advocate

Lucy Burns (July 28, 1879 – December 22, 1966) was an American suffragist and women's rights advocate. She was a passionate activist who played a significant role in the fight for women's suffrage in the United States. Burns is best known for her work with the National Woman's Party (NWP), which she co-founded with Alice Paul.

Early Life and Education

Lucy Burns was born in Brooklyn, New York City, to an Irish Catholic family. She was the fourth of eight children. Burns attended Packer Collegiate Institute and later graduated from Vassar College in 1902. She pursued further studies at Yale University and the University of Oxford, where she became involved in the British suffrage movement.

Activism in the United Kingdom

While in the United Kingdom, Burns met Emmeline Pankhurst and became deeply involved with the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). She participated in numerous demonstrations and was arrested multiple times for her activism. Her experiences in the UK significantly influenced her approach to the suffrage movement in the United States.

Return to the United States and the National Woman's Party

Upon returning to the United States, Burns joined the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). However, she soon became frustrated with the organization's conservative approach and, along with Alice Paul, formed the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage, which later became the National Woman's Party (NWP).

The NWP adopted more militant tactics, including picketing the White House, organizing large-scale demonstrations, and engaging in civil disobedience. Burns was instrumental in these efforts and was arrested multiple times. She endured harsh treatment and hunger strikes while imprisoned, which drew public attention to the suffrage cause.

Later Life and Legacy

After the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote, Burns retired from public life. She spent her later years caring for her family and engaging in religious activities. Lucy Burns passed away on December 22, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York.

Burns's legacy as a pioneering suffragist and advocate for women's rights continues to be celebrated. Her work with the National Woman's Party was crucial in securing the right to vote for women in the United States.

See Also

• Alice Paul
• National Woman's Party
• Women's suffrage in the United States
• Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
• Emmeline Pankhurst
• Women's Social and Political Union