American Woman Suffrage Association

Definition

The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) was an organization founded in 1869 to advocate for women's right to vote in the United States. It aimed to promote suffrage through state-level campaigns and sought to unite women from various backgrounds under a single cause, emphasizing a more moderate approach compared to other suffrage groups.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. AWSA was founded by prominent suffragists like Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell, who believed in a state-by-state strategy for achieving voting rights.
2. The organization emphasized education and persuasion as key methods for gaining support for women's suffrage among lawmakers and the public.
3. AWSA played a crucial role in securing several state-level victories, including the first successful vote for women in Wyoming in 1869.
4. In contrast to the National Woman Suffrage Association, which adopted a more confrontational approach, AWSA focused on building coalitions with other reform movements.
5. The AWSA's strategies laid the groundwork for the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote nationally.

Review Questions

• How did the strategies of the American Woman Suffrage Association differ from those of other suffrage organizations during its founding?
  • The American Woman Suffrage Association adopted a more moderate and cooperative approach compared to other groups like the National Woman Suffrage Association. While AWSA focused on state-by-state campaigns and building coalitions with other reform movements, others often took a more confrontational stance. This strategy allowed AWSA to gain significant ground at local levels, demonstrating that unity and persuasion could be effective in achieving their goals.
• What were some significant accomplishments of the American Woman Suffrage Association in its pursuit of women's voting rights?
  • The American Woman Suffrage Association achieved notable successes in several states by advocating for women's voting rights through education and grassroots efforts. One key accomplishment was securing Wyoming's recognition of women's suffrage in 1869, which marked a major milestone. Additionally, AWSA's efforts contributed to legislative changes in other states, laying foundational work that would eventually lead to broader national recognition of women's right to vote.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the American Woman Suffrage Association on the broader women's rights movement in the United States.
  • The American Woman Suffrage Association significantly shaped the long-term trajectory of the women's rights movement by promoting a gradual and inclusive approach to suffrage advocacy. Its emphasis on education, coalition-building, and state-level victories helped to create a supportive environment for subsequent activism. The organization's eventual merger with more radical suffragist groups into the National American Woman Suffrage Association facilitated a unified front that played a critical role in passing the 19th Amendment in 1920, which not only secured voting rights but also inspired future generations of feminists to pursue broader issues of equality and justice.

Related terms

National American Woman Suffrage Association: A merger of AWSA and the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1890, this organization aimed for a unified national approach to securing women's voting rights.

Suffragette: A term commonly used to describe women who actively campaigned for women's suffrage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the UK and the US.

Feminism: A social and political movement advocating for women's rights and equality, encompassing various issues including suffrage, reproductive rights, and workplace equality.