" It was the strongest weapon left with which to continue our battle." (Alice Paul commenting on the hunger strikes)

Michael Fullan defines moral purpose as principled behavior connected to something greater than ourselves that relates to human and social development (2001).  Alice Paul dedicated her entire life to securing equal rights for women.  She was literally willing to die for a cause.  Her behavior demonstrated that she was not going to stop at any measure, until she had achieved her goal.  Paul is a true example of a leader with a moral purpose.  At the end of her life she was known internationally as a humanitarian, for her cause.  Her efforts and purpose allow her to be defined as a revolutionary and a pioneer. 

Alice Paul had a deep understanding of the process of change.  As a leader, she knew that in order for change to be successful, according to her standards, she needed to be in control of the process.  As a new member of the National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA), she was appointed chair of the congressional committee.  With this position, she had the opportunity to directly influence the politicians in Washington D.C.  When this role did provide her with desired results, she founded the National Women’s Party (NWP).  The sole purpose of the NWP was to have an immediate passage of the federal amendment guaranteeing the disenfranchisement of women.  Paul used her understanding of the change process to direct her actions and behavior, appropriately, as she tirelessly fought for equal rights.

Alice Paul was a leader for equal rights, at a time when men were so very powerful.  Women were viewed as second class citizens and barely had a voice in their personal lives, let alone their political lives.  Alice Paul recognized that in an effort to make change, she would need to communicate and share her vision.  Paul used her education and life experiences to gain support from others.  When the acceptable, feminine approaches used by NAWSA didn’t work, Paul introduced new methods.  Paul led the NWP as they used similar strategies that were used by the suffrage movement in Britain.  The NWP staged demonstrations, parades, held mass meetings, picketed the White House and held hunger strikes.  Her picket signs presented messages that demanded to know why a president would fight for democracy abroad while denying it at home.  All of these techniques were successful in gaining the needed support, to eventually pass the 19^th Amendment.   The political strategies and techniques, used by the NWP, became the blueprint for civil rights organizations during the twentieth century. 

Alice Paul was a great leader for women and men.  She had a clear sense of self.  Paul was not willing to accept anything less then her vision.  She knew what she wanted and had the ability and courage to express it.  Alice Paul knew how to achieve her goals, and she was not going to let anyone, even the President of the Unite States, dissuade her. 

Fullan, M. (2001). Leading in a culture of change. San Fransico: Jossey-Bass