As with the suffrage campaign, splits within women’s organisations impeded progress.
- Some thought that women should work within the existing two-party federal system: others thought that this was a hopeless strategy.
- They thought the way forward was for women to form a separate party.
- It would be unlikely that either party would choose substantial numbers of women as candidates, or that women would become active on an equal level to men.
- Without the central unifying cause of actually gaining the vote, there were divisions and a loss of impetus as different causes took the energies of women devoted to contributing to public life.
- Suffrage Organisations
The NAWSA changed into the League of Women Voters (LWV) in 1920 but the direction of this movement became divided.
Those like the veteran campaigner, Jane Addams, wanted women to campaign on women’s issues.
And those like Carrie Chapman Catt (leader), wanted women to integrate into national political life and develop into equal citizens and participants.
Women themselves also, did not flock to take advantage of the vote and turnout in the 1920 elections was low.
The LWV spent a lot of time and energy encouraging women to vote, and didn’t see many former suffragist join:
- Only 5-10% of members of the NAWSA joined the new organisation.
