National Women's Suffrage Association

Definition

The National Women's Suffrage Association (NWSA) was an organization founded in 1869 that aimed to secure women's right to vote in the United States. It played a crucial role in advocating for women's suffrage, emphasizing the need for a constitutional amendment to grant women the vote, and focused on a broader agenda of women's rights beyond just suffrage. The NWSA was instrumental in mobilizing women across the nation and laid the groundwork for future activism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The NWSA was co-founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, two prominent figures in the women's rights movement.
2. The association focused not only on voting rights but also on issues such as property rights and educational opportunities for women.
3. The NWSA was known for its strong stance against the 15th Amendment, which granted African American men the right to vote without including women, highlighting the intersectionality within the suffrage movement.
4. In 1890, the NWSA merged with the American Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), further unifying the suffrage movement.
5. The efforts of the NWSA and its leaders played a significant role in shaping public discourse around women's rights and ultimately contributed to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Review Questions

• How did the formation of the National Women's Suffrage Association impact the broader women's rights movement in America?
  • The formation of the National Women's Suffrage Association had a significant impact on the women's rights movement by providing a structured organization that focused specifically on securing voting rights for women. It mobilized women across various states, enabling them to advocate effectively for suffrage and engage with lawmakers. The NWSA also broadened the scope of women's activism by addressing related social issues, thus creating a more comprehensive platform for women's rights.
• Compare and contrast the approaches of the National Women's Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association in their fight for women's voting rights.
  • The National Women's Suffrage Association took a more aggressive and confrontational approach by advocating for a constitutional amendment for women's suffrage at the national level. In contrast, the American Woman Suffrage Association adopted a more gradual strategy, focusing on gaining voting rights state by state. This difference in approach led to varied tactics; while NWSA often engaged in direct activism and protests, AWSA worked within existing political systems and sought alliances with other reform movements.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the National Women's Suffrage Association's activism on modern feminist movements in America.
  • The long-term effects of the National Women's Suffrage Association's activism are evident in modern feminist movements as they established foundational principles that continue to resonate today. The NWSA’s focus on intersectionality, where issues of race and gender intersected, paved the way for contemporary discussions around inclusivity within feminism. Additionally, their advocacy for broader social reforms beyond voting has influenced current feminist agendas that address economic inequality, reproductive rights, and violence against women. As such, the legacy of the NWSA remains integral to understanding both historical and contemporary struggles for women's rights.

Related terms

Seneca Falls Convention: The first women's rights convention held in 1848, where activists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott gathered to discuss issues of women's rights, including suffrage.

American Woman Suffrage Association: An organization formed in 1870 that aimed to secure women's right to vote at both state and national levels, often working in parallel with the NWSA but taking a more conservative approach.

Feminism: A movement advocating for the rights of women on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men, which encompasses a range of issues including suffrage.