Pro-suffrage Organizations

Two national women's political organizations evolved to argue for suffrage, but they worked differently toward the same goal. They disagreed not only on how to go about achieving the  change they desired in American political structure, but also on how much change there should be to woman's traditional place in society.

National American Woman Suffrage Association, or NAWSA

• conservative
• sought for votes for women through a process of amending state constitutions one by one 
• stressed proper behavior of a woman based on traditional relations between men and women, but with women's roles expanded in politics and professions
• sought to persuade male voters of the wisdom of giving women the right to vote
• described politics as a realm of social housekeeping that could benefit from a womanly touch
  

National Woman's Party, or NWP

• militant
• sought votes for women through amending the federal constitution
  
• stressed radical feminist ideals that called for equal rights for both genders; women's financial and sexual independence from men; women's inclusion in professions and politics
  
• demanded men give women the right to vote, used radical tactics of coercion rather than persuasion