Equality for Women
Women Increase Role in Society
In 1869, more conservative activists formed the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA), with Henry Ward Beecher as president, to advocate for advancing women’s suffrage at the state level. To these activists, jeopardizing Black enfranchisement to advance the less popular idea of women’s suffrage was not the right thing to do.
Despite disagreements, the movement continued and saw some success–Wyoming Territory granting suffrage to women in 1869, followed by Utah Territory in 1870–but also some setbacks. Susan B. Anthony was arrested along with 15 other women in 1872 for illegally voting. Anthony was tried, convicted, and fined $100. Then, in 1874, the Supreme Court said in Minor v. Happersett, that citizenship does not give women the right to vote.
By 1890, at the dawn of the Progressive Era which saw more women enter public life and increase their role in society, the NWSA and AWSA decided to merge and form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) with Stanton as the first president.
