The 19th Century:
- Pioneering Advocates: In the early 19th century, individual voices began calling for women's rights. Mary Wollstonecraft's "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792) is often cited as an early feminist text.
- Seneca Falls Convention (1848): The first women's rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York, on July 19-20, 1848. Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, this event marked the formal start of the Suffrage Movement in the United States.
- Declaration of Sentiments: The attendees of the Seneca Falls Convention drafted the Declaration of Sentiments, inspired by the U.S. Declaration of Independence. It outlined grievances and resolutions, including a demand for women's suffrage.
- Expanding Activism: In subsequent years, women's rights activists and suffragists continued their efforts through speeches, publications, and petitions. Early leaders included Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, and Sojourner Truth.
- Women's Suffrage Association: In 1869, two rival women's rights groups merged to form the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), with Susan B. Anthony as president and Elizabeth Cady Stanton as vice president.
National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA):
- Activist Tactics: The NWSA's tactics included lobbying, holding conventions, and organizing suffrage petitions. They also supported the women's suffrage amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
- Split in the Movement: In 1869, a split occurred within the Suffrage Movement. Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe formed the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA), favoring a state-by-state approach to suffrage rather than a federal amendment.
Merger and Renewed Momentum:
- Union of Suffrage Associations: In 1890, the NWSA and AWSA merged to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Susan B. Anthony served as president from 1892 to 1900.
- Collaboration and Expansion: The merged organization brought together a diverse group of suffragists, including activists from the temperance movement, labor organizations, and African American women's groups.
- Education and Advocacy: NAWSA pursued a multifaceted strategy involving public speaking tours, lobbying at state and national levels, and the publication of suffrage newspapers.
- Growing Membership: The Suffrage Movement gained momentum as more women from different backgrounds joined its ranks, contributing their skills and expertise.
These initial stages of the Suffrage Movement laid the groundwork for the eventual success of the 19th Amendment, which granted women's suffrage in the United States in 1920.