The two main groups in the women's suffrage movement pursued different methods: one aimed for a constitutional amendment, and the other advocated a state-by-state approach. Over time, strategies evolved, with some suffragists adopting more radical tactics to expedite progress, such as those inspired by the British suffrage movement. These efforts ultimately led to the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote in 1920.
The two main groups of suffragists who played significant roles in the American women's suffrage movement were led by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who aimed for a constitutional amendment for women's voting rights, and Lucy Stone, who advocated for a state-by-state approach. The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), formed by these merging factions, reflected diverse strategies ranging from conservative to radical ideologies. Radical suffragists like Alice Paul and Lucy Burns employed more daring tactics after 1913, influenced by the militant approaches observed in the British suffrage movement. They were motivated by dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the state-by-state strategy and the restrained, ladylike conduct promoted by NAWSA.
To contrast, NAWSA initially touted arguments about women's unique character, advocating that women would uplift politics and balance immigrant votes. Not all suffragists were feminists, but groups such as Heterodoxy represented feminists who sought greater social and political reforms, beyond just women's suffrage, aiming for complete gender equality in all aspects of society.
While the women's suffrage movement contained multiple ideologies and methods, the two predominant groups differed primarily in their approach—either seeking a broad constitutional amendment or pursuing individual state victories. The conserved efforts of these groups, diverse in their strategies and philosophies, culminated in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting American women the right to vote.