Final answer:
The two main arguments for women's suffrage were firstly, that women's unique societal roles could enhance politics, and secondly, that women deserved equal rights including the right to vote as part of broader gender equality. Both factions of the suffrage movement aimed to secure the vote for women.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Two Main Arguments for Women's Suffrage
The fight for women's suffrage in the United States was marked by two prominent arguments. The first argument was from the conservative wing of the movement which stressed that the right to vote was consistent with the unique character and societal responsibilities of women. This perspective suggested that women could contribute to the political realm in ways that compliment their roles in society, such as advocating for education and moral reform.
The second main argument was from the more radical faction that advocated for complete gender equality in every aspect of society. These suffragists pushed for an enfranchisement not just tied to the stereotypical roles of women, but as a matter of equal rights and civil liberties, aligning the vote as one part of a broader struggle for gender parity in areas like property ownership, education, and employment.
Despite internal differences, both groups converged on the shared goal of securing the vote for women, each employing different strategies to achieve this milestone. The blend of these arguments, pragmatic on one hand and fundamentally egalitarian on the other, culminated in the achievement of the women's right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.