Suffrage Campaigns State By State / New Leaders, New Approaches

Suffrage Campaigns State By State, also, New Leaders, New Approaches. . , Suffrage Campaigns State By State, 1867-1898 ,

"It was an experience that tested endurance and loyalty almost to the breaking point." , Adelia Stephens, suffrage organizer in Oklahoma, referring to suffrage efforts in the states

, Mixed Results on Suffrage in the States , From 1867 until 1900, suffragists waged unsuccessful hard-fought electoral campaigns in Kansas, Michigan, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, South Dakota, and California. The examples below illustrate the strategies and struggles of these campaigns., In 1882 Nebraska suffragists, with support from national suffrage associations, distributed literature and organized lecture tours. However, the Republican Party and the brewery industry, concerned about women's pro-temperance vote, greatly contributed to the defeat of the proposed woman suffrage law., In 1884 Oregon suffragists canvassed by districts, covered cities, and gained support from influential leaders. Ultimately, powerful saloons and other businesses defeated suffrage., Wyoming and Utah approved votes for women while they were territories and were admitted in 1890 and 1896 as equal suffrage states. In 1893 Colorado passed woman suffrage, with help from the National American Woman Suffrage Association and organizer Carrie Chapman Catt. In 1896 Idaho suffragists persuaded male voters to approve votes for women. NAWSA helped state workers, and most local newspapers endorsed suffrage., In 1896 the California campaign mobilized thousands by working in local communities and at the precinct level. But liquor dealers and politicians defeated the suffrage cause., Partial Victories and New Restrictions , During this period, several states allowed women to vote for school boards and educational issues. Kansas passed suffrage for women at the local level in 1887. Oklahoma Territory passed school election suffrage in 1890. However, southern states restricted Black male voting through poll taxes, literacy tests, and violence. These states feared that if Black women voted, it would threaten the power structure and white supremacy., [Timelines:] ,

19th Century Suffrage Campaign Victories , 1890: Wyoming and Utah (1896) joined the US as equal suffrage states. , 1893: Colorado , 1896: Idaho, 19th Century Suffrage Campaign Losses , 1867: Kansas , 1874: Michigan , 1877: Colorado , 1882: Nebraska , 1884: Oregon , 1887: Rhode Island , 1889: Washington , 1890: South Dakota , 1894: Kansas (2nd time) , 1896: California , 1898: South Dakota (2nd time) , 1898: Washington (2nd time)

, New Leaders, New Approaches: National American Woman Suffrage Association, 1890-1912 ,

"…there will never be a true democracy until every responsible and law-abiding adult in it, without regard to race, sex, color or creed has his or her own…voice in government." , Carrie Chapman Catt, President of NAWSA

, The Importance of State Campaigns , After women won the vote in a state, its congressional representatives would likely lend support to the national suffrage amendment. Then the state legislature would likely support ratification in the future, ensuring greater support for its passage., "Social Housekeeping" , Women Joined Reforms and Took Political Action , By the early 20th century, social problems such as child labor and the impact of industrialization on the home and family opened the door for women's greater involvement in civic life. Women wanted legislation to remedy such problems, and increasingly viewed the vote as a way to address and empower their causes. Women of all backgrounds were centrally involved in Progressive Era social reforms including temperance, home economics, settlement houses, and the National Women's Trade Union League. Women's clubs, including the General Federation of Women's clubs and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, as well as the nursing professions, peace organizations, and higher education gave women political experience. NAWSA's membership grew dramatically as thousands of women from reform organizations joined the suffrage cause., New Leaders Focused on a Constitutional Amendment , In 1900, the first generation of suffrage leaders died, Carrie Chapman Catt became the leader of NAWSA and began to focus on a national amendment in addition to state campaigns. In 1912 Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, who had gained suffrage campaign experience in England, were appointed by NAWSA to head its Congressional Committee to press Congress for a constitutional amendment. Focusing on a national amendment, Paul and Burns believed that parades, protests, and lobbying should be brought to the seat of government in Washington, D.C., [Captions:] , Jane Addams, leader of settlement house movement and suffragist., Rose Schneiderman, labor leader and suffragist., Frances Willard, leader of the women's temperance movement and suffragist., Lobbying Congress in large numbers was a key campaign strategy.