American Woman Suffrage Association

Definition

The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) was a significant organization founded in 1869 to advocate for women's right to vote in the United States. It aimed to achieve suffrage through state-level campaigns, focusing on a more conservative approach compared to its counterpart, the National Woman Suffrage Association, which sought a federal amendment. The AWSA played a crucial role in organizing and mobilizing support for women's voting rights, ultimately contributing to the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The AWSA was established in response to the split in the suffrage movement over issues like race and strategy after the Civil War.
2. Key leaders of the AWSA included Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell, and Julia Ward Howe, who emphasized unity and moderation in their approach.
3. The organization primarily focused on securing state-level voting rights for women, believing that once enough states granted suffrage, it would lead to a national change.
4. In 1890, the AWSA merged with the National Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), which strengthened the movement's efforts.
5. The AWSA's strategy of working through existing political systems helped lay important groundwork for the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Review Questions

• How did the American Woman Suffrage Association differentiate itself from the National Woman Suffrage Association in terms of strategy?
  • The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) took a more conservative and state-focused approach compared to the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), which pushed for a federal amendment. While NWSA aimed for immediate national change through direct action and advocacy at the federal level, AWSA believed that achieving suffrage state by state would create a stronger foundation for eventually securing national rights for women. This distinction played a significant role in shaping their respective strategies and mobilizing support within different political contexts.
• Discuss the impact of key figures like Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell on the American Woman Suffrage Association and its goals.
  • Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell were pivotal leaders of the American Woman Suffrage Association, guiding its mission towards achieving women's voting rights. Lucy Stone was renowned for her oratory skills and commitment to moderate activism, advocating for suffrage while promoting unity among various factions within the movement. Henry Blackwell supported women's rights both politically and personally as Lucy's husband. Their leadership emphasized collaboration with existing political structures and building alliances, significantly influencing how AWSA approached its goals and helped it gain traction throughout various states.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the American Woman Suffrage Association's strategies on the women's suffrage movement and its eventual success with the 19th Amendment.
  • The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for the eventual success of the women's suffrage movement through its strategic focus on state-level campaigns. By prioritizing gradual progress and working within existing political frameworks, AWSA built vital support networks that enabled women to gain voting rights in various states before culminating in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. This incremental approach not only broadened public awareness but also highlighted the importance of sustained advocacy. The merging of AWSA with other groups eventually created a unified front that effectively pushed for national change, demonstrating how AWSA's methods influenced broader strategies employed by suffragists nationwide.

Related terms

National Woman Suffrage Association:

An organization founded in 1869 by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton that focused on securing women's voting rights through a constitutional amendment.

19th Amendment:

An amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1920, that granted women the legal right to vote and marked a significant victory for the women's suffrage movement.

Suffragette: A term used to describe women who campaigned for women's suffrage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often associated with more militant actions than their suffragist counterparts.