Bella Abzug

Bella Abzug was born in the Bronx on July 24, 1920, one month after the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, giving women the right to vote. After attending Columbia University Law School, she practiced civil rights and labor law for twenty-three years. In 1970, she became the first Jewish woman elected to Congress. On her first day she introduced a resolution calling for the withdrawal of troops from Southeast Asia. Throughout her career, she was known as one of the most vocal proponents of civil rights for women, as well as for gays and lesbians. She died in 1998 and is survived by two daughters.

Resources for Teachers and Students

Reflections on Working Towards Peace