NWHM Woman Suffrage Exhibition

ADRIFT IN THE DOLDRUMS

Mainstream suffrage postcard touting women's ability to clean up the "Dirty Pool of Politics," combining an appeal for the vote based both on women's presumed "higher moral nature" and their greater abilities at "social housekeeping."

By 1890, the fierce rivalries and animosities of the previous generation of suffragists had waned, and a new cohort of women had joined the ranks. Leaders in both the National and American Associations voted to unite to become the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). This newly merged group took on the more moderate approach of the American Association, yet Stanton and Anthony from the National Association were elected leaders and remained so until their deaths in 1902 and 1906, respectively.

Gold suffrage ribbon.

Despite women’s unyielding efforts, progress was exceedingly slow. At the turn of the century, women could vote in only four western states–Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Colorado. As the new century dawned, the fifty-year-old suffrage movement was adrift in what its own leaders called "the doldrums." Congressional hearings on a constitutional amendment for suffrage had not been held since 1887. Success was nowhere in sight. Yet, the NAWSA and its predecessor organizations had planted the educational seeds of enfranchisement, ensuring fertile ground for a new period of activism in the new century.

After 1900, the suffrage movement experienced a dramatic shift from education to agitation, employing dramatic publicity, dynamic nonviolent confrontation, and civil disobedience to promote the cause.

NEW LIFE FOR THE MOVEMENT


A variation of the Herald figure, classically robed, carrying an American flag. The background of the graphic is suffused with a gold color.

A coincidence of events at the turn of the century helped to revitalize the suffrage movement. The Progressive Era (usually given in history texts as the period from 1900-1920 but, running from 1890-1925 for the women’s movement) gave new life to all reform efforts. Millions of women from all ethnic, class, and racial backgrounds entered public life to address severe social problems through innovative reforms. As women’s roles in society expanded, so did the activism that politicized women and brought them into mainstream politics. Soon realizing that virtually every reform they sought was regulated by law, and that legislators responded to voters, suffrage supporters and women reformers alike knew that the social policies they advocated could be achieved only if women had the vote. Soon after the dawn of the new century, the question of woman suffrage had become mainstream politics.