The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is a few well-selected words.
These two historical objects, one from the American suffrage movement and the other from the British suffragette movement, both demonstrate the powerful use of concise and impactful language to convey a political message.
The American suffrage banner is a tool for public protest, designed to be seen and understood quickly during marches or demonstrations. Its text, “WE DEMAND AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED-STATES CONSTITUTION ENFRANCHISING WOMEN,” is a direct and forceful statement. The words are carefully chosen: “DEMAND” conveys strength and determination, not a meek request. The phrase clearly outlines the specific legal and political goal of the movement, which was to secure voting rights through a constitutional amendment. Every word serves a purpose in communicating the suffragists’ clear objective.
Similarly, the British suffragette penny uses language in a clever and subversive way. Activists would stamp the phrase “VOTES FOR WOMEN” over the image of the King on a penny. This simple, three-word slogan perfectly encapsulates the movement’s central goal. It is a memorable and powerful rallying cry. By defacing the national currency, a symbol of the state and the monarch, the suffragettes created a mobile piece of propaganda. The penny would pass through many hands, spreading the message far and wide in a way that was difficult for authorities to control.
While the other options relate to one of the objects, they do not apply to both. The US Constitution is mentioned only on the American banner, and the British penny relates to the British currency system, not the banking system as a whole. A banner is not a common household item. Therefore, the most accurate answer is that both artifacts effectively utilize a few well-selected words to advance their cause.
