"Woman Suffrage Bonfire on Sidewalk Before White House," 1918

In this 1918 photograph taken by Harris & Ewing, two suffragettes hold a banner outside the gates of the White House accusing President Woodrow Wilson of hypocrisy when he claims to fight for and support democracy during World War I, all the while denying women the right to vote in his own country.

Courtesy of Library of Congress, Harris & Ewing, "Woman Suffrage. Bonfire on Sidewalk Before White House," 1918

Description

Three suffragettes hold a banner outside the gates of the White House in this 1918 photograph by Harris & Ewing. The banner accuses President Woodrow Wilson of hypocrisy when he claims to fight for and support democracy during World War I, all the while denying women the right to vote in his own country.

Transcript from "Woman Suffrage Bonfire" Photograph

Source-Dependent Questions

Where are the women protesting? Is this an effective place for them to do so at this time in history? Why or why not?
Use context clues from the image and previous background knowledge to define the word "disenfranchisement."
How can the president of the United States support self-determination for countries under imperial rule but not for women in his own country?

Citation Information

Harris & Ewing, "Woman Suffrage. Bonfire on Sidewalk Before White House," 1918. Courtesy of Library of Congress