Final answer:
Women in the suffrage movement utilized various approaches to achieve voting rights, with some advocating for a constitutional amendment and others supporting a state-by-state method. They were united in their goal, culminating in the formation of NAWSA and the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences in Suffrage Approaches
The women who fought for the right to vote employed different strategies and had varying approaches. For instance, leaders like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony advocated for a constitutional amendment, which was a more radical, unified national approach. Conversely, Lucy Stone and others preferred a state-by-state strategy. Some suffragists chose to work within the gender norms of the 19th century, promoting the idea that women could uplift the political sphere through their unique moral perspectives. Others, however, like Charlotte Perkins Gilman, actively challenged these conventions, arguing for complete gender equality. The division in approaches sometimes led to separate organizations by race and class, as white and minority women often mobilized within distinct groups.
Connections and Legacy
Despite their differences, these women were united in their core mission to secure women's suffrage. Their collective efforts, over decades of tireless campaigning and education, eventually led to significant changes. The formation of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1890 and the eventual passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 were critical milestones. Additionally, they laid the groundwork for future generations of women to continue pushing for further rights and equality, solidifying the legacy of the suffrage movement.