American Woman Suffrage Association

Definition

The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) was an organization founded in 1869 that aimed to secure the right to vote for women in the United States. It emerged as a response to the need for a more moderate and state-level approach to women's suffrage, distinguishing itself from more radical groups. AWSA focused on educating the public about the importance of women's voting rights and building coalitions with other reform movements, employing various strategies and tactics to achieve their goal.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. AWSA was led by prominent figures like Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell, who emphasized a more inclusive approach to women’s suffrage.
2. The organization sought to work alongside male allies in the abolitionist and temperance movements to gain support for women's voting rights.
3. AWSA believed in a gradual approach, advocating for state-by-state campaigns to achieve suffrage rather than demanding a national constitutional amendment.
4. The AWSA eventually merged with the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1890 to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association, combining efforts for greater impact.
5. Through public lectures, petitions, and grassroots organizing, AWSA successfully raised awareness about women's suffrage and built a broad coalition of supporters.

Review Questions

• How did the strategies employed by the American Woman Suffrage Association differ from those of its contemporaries?
  • The American Woman Suffrage Association adopted a moderate strategy focusing on state-level campaigns and collaboration with other reform movements. Unlike the more radical National Woman Suffrage Association, which pushed for a constitutional amendment at the national level, AWSA aimed to gradually secure voting rights through educational efforts and coalition-building. This approach helped them appeal to a wider audience, including male allies, thereby fostering a more inclusive movement.
• Evaluate the impact of the American Woman Suffrage Association's tactics on the broader suffrage movement during its existence.
  • The tactics employed by the American Woman Suffrage Association had a significant impact on the broader suffrage movement by promoting a strategy of gradual change through education and coalition-building. Their focus on public lectures, petitions, and grassroots organizing effectively raised awareness about women's suffrage issues. This contributed to increasing public support for women's voting rights and laid the groundwork for future advancements in the movement, including the eventual merger with the National Woman Suffrage Association.
• Assess how the formation of the American Woman Suffrage Association shaped subsequent developments in women's rights advocacy in the U.S.
  • The formation of the American Woman Suffrage Association was crucial in shaping subsequent developments in women's rights advocacy by establishing a cooperative framework that prioritized collaboration over division. By merging with other suffrage organizations later on, AWSA created a unified front that enhanced visibility and legitimacy for women’s voting rights. This unity not only strengthened their advocacy efforts but also set the stage for future legislative successes, culminating in the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote nationwide.

Related terms

National Woman Suffrage Association: Founded in 1869 alongside the AWSA, this organization took a more radical approach by advocating for a constitutional amendment for women's suffrage and emphasizing broader social reforms.

Suffrage Movement: A social and political campaign aimed at extending the right to vote to women, which included various strategies, organizations, and figures committed to achieving voting rights.

State Suffrage Campaigns: Efforts led by local organizations within individual states that focused on securing voting rights through state legislatures rather than at the federal level.