National Woman Suffrage Association

Definition

The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) was an organization founded in 1869 by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, aimed at advocating for women's right to vote in the United States. It played a crucial role in uniting various feminist groups and emphasizing the importance of a federal amendment to secure voting rights for women, differentiating itself from other suffrage organizations by focusing on broader women's rights issues.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The NWSA was established in response to the passage of the 14th and 15th Amendments, which granted citizenship and voting rights to African American men but excluded women.
2. NWSA focused on campaigning for a constitutional amendment that would ensure women's suffrage at the federal level, contrasting with the state-by-state approach of other organizations.
3. The organization held its first convention in New York City in 1869, which attracted prominent activists and set the stage for future suffrage efforts.
4. The NWSA published a newspaper called 'The Revolution' to spread awareness and advocate for women's suffrage and broader women's rights issues.
5. In 1890, the NWSA merged with the American Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), which aimed to unify efforts towards achieving voting rights.

Review Questions

• How did the formation of the National Woman Suffrage Association influence the direction of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States?
  • The formation of the NWSA significantly influenced the women's suffrage movement by creating a unified organization dedicated to advocating for a federal amendment that would guarantee women the right to vote. By prioritizing national action over state-level campaigns, the NWSA helped raise awareness about women's voting rights across the country. This focus not only rallied support from various factions within the women's rights movement but also highlighted broader issues of gender equality, setting a strategic direction that shaped future advocacy efforts.
• Compare and contrast the strategies employed by the National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association in their fight for voting rights.
  • The NWSA adopted a more radical approach by advocating for a federal constitutional amendment to secure women's voting rights, viewing this as essential for true equality. In contrast, the American Woman Suffrage Association focused on working within existing political structures to achieve voting rights through state-by-state campaigns. While both organizations sought similar goals, their differing strategies reflected broader ideological divides within the suffrage movement regarding how best to achieve electoral equality for women.
• Evaluate the impact of the National Woman Suffrage Association on later feminist movements and how its legacy continues to shape contemporary discussions about women's rights.
  • The NWSA's legacy has had a profound impact on later feminist movements by establishing foundational principles of organized advocacy and political action for women's rights. Its emphasis on a constitutional amendment paved the way for later successes in achieving women's suffrage with the 19th Amendment in 1920. The methods and ideas promoted by NWSA leaders have continued to resonate, influencing modern discussions around gender equality and expanding the definition of women's rights beyond just voting, addressing issues such as reproductive rights, workplace equity, and intersectionality within feminist discourse.

Related terms

American Woman Suffrage Association:

An organization formed in 1870 that worked alongside the NWSA but focused more on state-level campaigns for women's voting rights and sought to work within the existing political system.

Susan B. Anthony:

A prominent leader in the women's suffrage movement who co-founded the NWSA and played a vital role in advocating for women's voting rights throughout her life.

Women’s Rights Movement: A social and political movement aimed at achieving equal rights for women, encompassing various issues including voting rights, education, and workplace equality.