National American Woman Suffrage Association

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National American Woman Suffrage Association

The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) was an organization formed on February 18, 1890, to advocate for women's suffrage in the United States. It was created by the merger of two rival organizations, the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) and the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA). The NAWSA played a pivotal role in the eventual passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted women the right to vote in 1920.

Founding and Early History

The NAWSA was established to unify the efforts of the NWSA and AWSA, which had different approaches to achieving women's suffrage. The NWSA, founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, focused on a federal constitutional amendment, while the AWSA, led by Lucy Stone, worked to secure voting rights state by state.

Leadership

The NAWSA was led by several prominent suffragists over its history. Susan B. Anthony served as its president from 1892 to 1900. She was succeeded by Carrie Chapman Catt, who served two terms as president and was instrumental in the final push for the Nineteenth Amendment. Other notable leaders included Anna Howard Shaw and Alice Stone Blackwell.

Strategies and Campaigns

The NAWSA employed a variety of strategies to promote women's suffrage, including lobbying, petitioning, and organizing public demonstrations. They also worked to educate the public and lawmakers about the importance of women's voting rights. The organization was known for its disciplined and coordinated approach, which contrasted with the more militant tactics of the National Woman's Party led by Alice Paul.

Merger and Legacy

In 1920, following the successful ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, the NAWSA transformed into the League of Women Voters, an organization dedicated to encouraging informed and active participation in government. The legacy of the NAWSA is remembered as a crucial part of the women's suffrage movement in the United States.

Related Pages

• Women's suffrage in the United States
• Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
• Susan B. Anthony
• Elizabeth Cady Stanton
• Carrie Chapman Catt
• National Woman's Party
• League of Women Voters

See Also

• History of women's suffrage in the United States
• American Woman Suffrage Association
• National Woman Suffrage Association
• Alice Paul
• Lucy Stone