Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association facts for kids

The Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association (CWSA) was a group started on October 28, 1869. It was founded by Isabella Beecher Hooker and Frances Ellen Burr. Their main goal was to help women in Connecticut get the right to vote. They wanted the state to approve the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. For 52 years, the CWSA worked hard. They helped pass local laws and joined the national fight for women's suffrage, which means women's right to vote. They worked with the National Woman Suffrage Association on protests and demonstrations across the country. Besides voting rights, the CWSA also supported fair labor rules, discussed important social issues, and fought against political corruption.

Overview

The Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association (CWSA) was formed to help women in Connecticut gain voting rights. Members believed they needed to vote to protect their personal property. They also wanted to influence working conditions and protect their children. The first meeting took place in Hartford, Connecticut, at the Roberts Opera House.

The CWSA began by focusing on local campaigns for women's suffrage. As the group grew, it became very important in the fight for women's voting rights. This was true both in Connecticut and across the nation. However, Connecticut did not approve the 19th Amendment right away. Instead, Tennessee became the 36th and final state to make women's right to vote a national law.

Smaller groups like the CWSA were very important for the women's suffrage movement. They helped both locally and nationally. The CWSA worked with groups like the National Woman Suffrage Association. Together, they planned large national events and smaller local ones. For example, in August 1911, the CWSA held a month-long car tour. This tour helped them gain support in Litchfield, where many people were against women's suffrage. The campaign was a success, gathering 964 signatures for a petition.

What They Did

The CWSA organized many local events and activities. These helped the women's suffrage movement grow in Connecticut. Their activities included:

• Publishing papers
• Holding rallies
• Asking government officials for support
• Suggesting new laws
• Organizing demonstrations
• Speaking at legislative hearings
• Writing to political leaders
• Signing pledges
• Participating in national demonstrations
• Hosting mailing campaigns

History

Isabella Beecher Hooker was the founder and first leader of the CWSA. She was a very important person in history. She led the CWSA for 36 years, stepping down in 1905. Even after retiring, she continued to fight for women's voting rights across the country.

During Isabella Beecher Hooker's time as leader, the CWSA helped pass local laws. These laws improved women's rights in Connecticut. In 1887, the CWSA helped pass the Married Women's Property Bill. This bill gave married women more control over their own property. Later, in 1893, women in Connecticut gained the right to vote for school officials. In 1909, they could also vote on library issues.

In the early 1900s, after Isabella Beecher Hooker left, support for the movement slowed down. By 1906, the CWSA had only 50 members. This changed in 1910 when Katharine Martha Houghton Hepburn became the new leader. She brought new energy to the movement. She took stronger actions, like organizing rallies and demonstrations. On May 2, 1914, the CWSA led Connecticut's first suffrage parade. More than 2,000 people attended.

Thanks to Hepburn's efforts and the renewed interest in women's rights, the CWSA grew. By 1917, it had over 32,000 members. With this strong support, the CWSA sent a telegram directly to President Woodrow Wilson. This happened on July 12, 1918. The pressure from Connecticut and other states eventually made President Wilson change his mind about women's voting rights.

As support for women's suffrage grew, other women's rights groups also formed in Connecticut. One example was The Connecticut League of Women Voters. These groups worked together on events. They were very important in helping the 19th Amendment finally pass. However, as support for women's voting rights grew, so did the opposition. Two of Connecticut’s senators voted against the amendment. There was also a group called The Connecticut Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. They believed women were not suited to vote.

Despite the opposition, the Nineteenth Amendment was passed on May 21, 1919. It was later approved by enough states on August 18, 1920. After achieving their main goal, the CWSA voted to close down on June 3, 1921.

Leadership