NAWSA - Chad Mathews 5th period

In 1869, the women’s suffrage movement split into two groups after the 15^th Amendment was passed, giving African Americans the right to vote, but still not women. The National Woman Suffrage Association, as well as the American Woman Suffrage Association, were both founded in 1869. These two organizations were the main suffrage organizations for women in the United States in the 1800’s. Both the organizations campaigned for the right to vote, but in different ways. Leaders such as Lucy Stone thought that the right for African Americans to vote was fine, whereas Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony thought that only allowing blacks to vote without the government acknowledging women’s suffrage was dangerous. Despite their differences, the groups decided in 1890, after 21 years of rivalry, that it was necessary to join the two groups in order to get more accomplished. They named their new organization the National American Woman Suffrage Association (a.k.a. NAWSA). This new combined association became so popular that it developed into the most mainstream women suffrage group. Their strategy was to campaign at the state level, because they believed that the more states they could get to support them, the more likely the federal government might pass the amendment for female voting. The presidents of this organization, in order from first to last, included Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1890-1892), Susan B. Anthony (1892-1900), Carrie Chapman Catt (1900-1904), Anna Howard Shaw (1904-1915), Carrie Chapman Catt (1915-1947), and Caroline McCormick Slade (1896, 1947-1951). The National American Woman Suffrage Association had millions of women supporters, and also inspired hundreds of smaller local and state organizations and groups. The NAWSA held large parades, and annual conventions that helped get their members more involved. The organization also sponsored newspapers, and had their own suffrage press which published pamphlets and books to recruit new members. After 14 years of failure to get one state to ratify a state suffrage amendment, Carrie Chapman Catt took action. After her time was up as leader, the organization changed its name to the League of Women Voters, which continued to campaign for the same principles as the previous group. The organization combined their effort for woman suffrage with the support of World War I. They then persuaded President Woodrow Wilson to support the 19^th amendment. This amendment, passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate in June 1919, stated that women now had the right to vote if approved by 36 states in order to change the constitution. The amendment was soon certified for adoption by the Secretary of State. This thus ended the 72 year struggle of women’s suffrage.

Sources:

"National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) (American Organization) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Web. 09 Feb. 2012.

"Open Collections Program: Women Working, National American Women's Suffrage Association." Harvard University Library: Open Collections Program: Home. 

"The National American Woman Suffrage Association." Bryn Mawr College. Web. 09 Feb.