Answer: Suffrage strategy, racial inclusion, tactics.
In the early women's movement, activists often had differing opinions on various points, reflecting the diverse goals and strategies within the movement. Some of the key points of disagreement among early women's rights activists included:
1. Suffrage Strategy: One significant point of contention was the strategy for achieving women's suffrage. Some advocated for a state-by-state approach, while others believed in pursuing a federal amendment. This led to divisions within the movement, with suffragists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton favoring a more aggressive, federal strategy, while others, like Lucy Stone, supported a state-based approach.
2. Racial Inclusion: The issue of racial inclusion and cooperation with African American women's rights activists caused divisions. Some suffrage organizations were racially exclusive, while others, like the National Association of Colored Women (NACW), worked on both women's and civil rights issues.
3. Working-Class vs. Middle-Class Concerns: Differences in class backgrounds also created tensions. Some activists, often from more privileged backgrounds, focused on issues like property rights and education, while working-class women emphasized labor rights, economic equality, and labor conditions.
4. Approach to Marriage and Family: There were differing views on the institution of marriage and family. Some activists advocated for changes to marriage laws, such as granting women greater control over property within marriage, while others were cautious about challenging traditional family structures.
5. Temperance Movement: The connection between the women's movement and the temperance (anti-alcohol) movement caused disagreements. While some suffragists were involved in temperance activism, others believed that aligning women's rights too closely with temperance could alienate potential supporters.
6. Militancy vs. Nonviolence: Tactics and strategies varied, with some suffragists, like the members of the Women's Social and Political Union in the UK, adopting militant tactics like hunger strikes and property damage, while others advocated for nonviolent civil disobedience.
These are just a few examples of the points of disagreement within the early women's movement. The movement was dynamic and diverse, reflecting the complex social, political, and cultural issues of the time.