Final answer:
The Equal Rights Amendment, introduced by Alice Paul, was designed to guarantee equal rights for all genders. It sought to remove gender-based legal distinctions but was never fully ratified due to opposition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was first introduced by Alice Paul in 1923 and was specifically designed to guarantee equal rights for all genders. This amendment was aimed at ensuring that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." Alice Paul and other supporters of the ERA believed it would pave the way for equal employment and educational opportunities, and would provide entrepreneurial women with equal access to resources like bank loans. Despite its initial intent, the ERA faced opposition and challenges that prevented it from being ratified. Specifically, the ERA was not only about prohibiting gender discrimination but also sought to remove legal distinctions based on gender, which were seen as barriers to equal treatment in various aspects of society including business, education, and even credit access.
Critics of the ERA, like Phyllis Schlafly, argued that it would eliminate laws that protected women and could lead to negative consequences, such as women being subject to the draft. Despite passing Congress in 1972, the amendment ultimately fell three states short of ratification.