NWSA, AWSA, or NAWSA?

In 1869 two different organizations were formed over the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution both with the same concept. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton created the National Women’s Suffrage Association (NWSA). The purpose of this was to ensure women the right to vote as well as end discrimination in employment and pay and to advocate an easier divorce.  But some suffragists thought that you should only try to focus on one thing as a time. So Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell, Julia Ward Howe, and Josephine Ruffin founded the American Women’s Suffrage Association (AWSA). They just wanted to make sure that women got the right to vote so that is what they campaigned about. I for one sided with the NWSA because that is part of my beliefs and religion.

            I will educate you some more on both associations. First will be the NWSA. The NWSA main priority was getting women the right to vote but this group often stirred public debate through its reformed proposals on social issues such as marriage and divorce. They believed that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments were injustices to women.

            The AWSA supported the Fifteenth Amendment and strongly supported getting the right to vote for the Negro. They believed the Amendment would be in danger of failing to pass if it included the vote for women as well. They also believed that they could be more successful through state-by-state campaigns.

            In 1887 a group of four ladies consisting of Lucy Stone, Susan B Anthony, Alice Stone Blackwell and Rachel Roster joined to discuss a merger. In 1890 they came to an agreement and soon became the National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Elizabeth Cady Stanton was elected president and Susan B. Anthony, vice president.