Who were the activists for the Equal Rights Amendment?
Asked by: Prof. London Murphy | Last update: April 22, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (23 votes)
Activists for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) included early suffragists like Alice Paul (who drafted it) and Crystal Eastman, along with second-wave feminists such as Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Patsy Mink, and Bella Abzug, who mobilized massive protests and lobbied Congress in the 1970s, supported by organizations like NOW, while opposing figures like Phyllis Schlafly led the "STOP ERA" movement.
Who were the activists that pushed for an Equal Rights Amendment?
1923: Alice Paul, the famed suffragist, and leader of the NWP, along with feminist lawyer/activist Crystal Eastman, wrote text for the amendment known as the Lucretia Mott Amendment. It states: “Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction.
Who were the supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment?
The main support base for the ERA until the late 1960s was among middle class Republican women, while some Southern Democrats also supported it. In 1950 and 1953, the ERA was passed by the Senate with a provision known as "the Hayden rider", introduced by Arizona senator Carl Hayden.
Who fought against the Equal Rights Amendment?
Phyllis Schlafly. Phyllis Stewart Schlafly (/ˈʃlæfli/; born Phyllis McAlpin Stewart; August 15, 1924 – September 5, 2016) was an American attorney and activist who was nationally prominent in conservatism.
Who led the Equal Rights Amendment?
In 1923, in Seneca Falls for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the 1848 Woman's Rights Convention, Alice Paul first introduced the first version of the Equal Rights Amendment, which was called the "Lucretia Mott Amendment" at the time.
Activists on Equal Rights Amendment
Did Reagan support the Equal Rights Amendment?
As President, Reagan opposed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) because he thought that women were already protected by the 14th Amendment, although he had supported the amendment and offered to help women's groups achieve its ratification while serving as Governor of California.
Why did Alice Paul write the Equal Rights Amendment?
She believed the true battle for legally protected gender equality had yet to be won. With an eye to championing another constitutional amendment, Paul pursued and earned three law degrees (LL. B., LL.
Who were the famous 5 women's suffrage?
The "Famous Five" (or "Famous 5") were five Canadian women—Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, and Henrietta Muir Edwards—who led the fight to have women legally recognized as "persons" under Canadian law, enabling them to serve in the Senate, a landmark achievement in women's suffrage and equality, culminating in the 1929 Privy Council ruling. Though they championed broader women's rights, including voting, their most famous victory came through the Persons Case, challenging the British North America Act.
Who fought for equal rights?
Leaders in the Struggle for Civil Rights
- Roy Wilkins. Introduced at the August 1963 March on Washington as "the acknowledged champion of civil rights in America," Roy Wilkins headed the oldest and largest of the civil rights organizations. ...
- Whitney M. ...
- A. ...
- Bayard Rustin. ...
- Martin Luther King Jr. ...
- James Farmer. ...
- John Lewis.
Which party supported equal rights?
While the text of the ERA varied over the decades, the goal remained the same: ensuring that women and men have equal rights under the law. In 1940, the Republican Party became the first major party to endorse the amendment in its platform.
Who opposed the women's rights movement?
The National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage (NAOWS) was the first national organization of women who challenged the fight for women's suffrage. Several state associations assembled for an anti-suffrage convention in New York City and formed the NAOWS.
Did the Republican Party support the civil rights movement?
A higher percentage of the Republicans and Democrats outside the South supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as they had on all previous Civil Rights legislation.
Who was a key opponent of the Equal Rights Amendment?
The primary figure for the ERA's opposition was Phyllis Schlafly and her STOP ERA organization. STOP ERA stood for Stop Taking Our Privileges Equal Rights Amendment. Schlafly held demonstrations before the legislature and rallied women to persuade legislators to oppose the amendment in strategic states.
Why did the Equal Rights Amendment fail in 1982?
Despite winning congressional approval, the proposed amendment was not ratified by the required two-thirds majority of the states, in part because critics feared that protecting against gender discrimination would confuse gender distinctions and, therefore, legitimize homosexuality.
What president signed the Equal Rights Amendment?
This photograph shows President Jimmy Carter signing the House of Representative resolution proposing the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) before it was sent to the states for ratification in 1978.
Who started women's rights?
It commemorates three founders of America's women's suffrage movement: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott.
What was Emily Murphy's famous quote?
But Emily was a tough, no nonsense woman who never backed down from a fight... In fact, one of her trademark quotes was “Whenever I don't know whether to fight or not, I fight.” Naturally, she saw the Senate issue as an injustice against all women.
Who are the Famous Five?
Led by judge Emily Murphy, the group included Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise Crummy McKinney and Irene Parlby. The story of the Famous Five and of The "Persons" Case is a case study in Canadian political history and leadership.
Is Trump a liberal or a conservative?
Throughout his public life, he has variously described himself as conservative, common-sense, and at times partly aligned with the positions of the Democratic Party.
Who is a famous political activist?
Martin Luther King Jr.
led the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. His vision led to important legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Is Adam Sandler a Republican?
In 2007, Sandler made a $1 million donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Manchester, New Hampshire. Sandler has not publicly discussed his political opinions, but it has been reported that he is a registered Republican.
Who opposed the Equal rights Act?
Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative activist, commentator, and author, led a successful campaign against the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s.
Who was the main leader of the women's suffrage movement?
Although Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul are considered three of the major architects of Women's Suffrage, they are somewhat problematic figures in terms of the causes of social justice and equality for Black Americans.
Who pushed for the Equal Rights Amendment?
Activist Alice Paul pushed for the Equal Rights Amendment after the 19th Amendment secured voting rights for American women. In 1923, Paul announced plans to develop and champion a constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal protection to both sexes. She named it after women's rights pioneer Lucretia Mott.