American Women's Suffrage Association

Definition

The American Women's Suffrage Association (AWSA) was an organization formed in 1869 that focused on securing women's right to vote through state-level campaigns, contrasting with the more radical approach of the National Woman Suffrage Association. AWSA aimed to unify supporters of women's suffrage and promote a moderate, gradual approach to achieving voting rights for women, emphasizing the importance of state-by-state efforts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The AWSA was led by prominent figures like Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell, who emphasized a non-confrontational approach to securing voting rights.
2. Unlike its counterpart, the National Woman Suffrage Association, which sought a federal amendment, AWSA focused on winning support for suffrage at the state level.
3. AWSA played a crucial role in fostering coalitions among various women's rights activists and organizations, highlighting the diversity of strategies within the suffrage movement.
4. The AWSA eventually merged with the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1890 to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), creating a more unified front for the suffrage movement.
5. The AWSA was instrumental in passing several state-level suffrage laws in the late 19th century, which laid the groundwork for future national reforms.

Review Questions

• How did the strategies of the American Women's Suffrage Association differ from those of other women's suffrage organizations during its formation?
  • The American Women's Suffrage Association adopted a more moderate and gradual approach compared to other organizations like the National Woman Suffrage Association. While AWSA focused on securing women's voting rights through state-level campaigns and building coalitions, its counterpart pushed for a federal constitutional amendment. This difference in strategy highlighted varying philosophies within the suffrage movement regarding how best to achieve equal voting rights for women.
• Evaluate the impact of the American Women's Suffrage Association on state-level suffrage efforts in the United States.
  • The American Women's Suffrage Association significantly impacted state-level suffrage efforts by advocating for gradual reforms and building alliances among diverse groups. Its focus on winning suffrage through state legislatures allowed for a more localized approach that ultimately helped secure votes for women in several states before the ratification of the 19th Amendment. The AWSA's emphasis on working within existing political structures provided a framework that many suffragists would follow, illustrating its lasting influence on the movement.
• Assess how the merging of AWSA with NWSA into NAWSA changed the landscape of the women's suffrage movement in America.
  • The merging of the American Women's Suffrage Association with the National Woman Suffrage Association to form NAWSA marked a significant turning point in the women's suffrage movement. This unification brought together diverse strategies and philosophies under one umbrella organization, allowing for a more cohesive and powerful effort towards achieving voting rights. By combining their resources and support networks, NAWSA was able to amplify its message, mobilize larger groups of activists, and ultimately increase pressure on lawmakers, culminating in the successful ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Related terms

National Woman Suffrage Association: Founded in 1869 alongside AWSA, the National Woman Suffrage Association took a more radical stance by advocating for a constitutional amendment to grant women the right to vote.

Seneca Falls Convention: The Seneca Falls Convention, held in 1848, is often considered the birthplace of the women's rights movement in the U.S., where activists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott called for equal rights, including suffrage.

19th Amendment: Ratified in 1920, the 19th Amendment granted women the legal right to vote in the United States, culminating decades of activism by organizations like AWSA and its counterparts.