Indiana Woman's Suffrage Association facts for kids
The Indiana Woman's Suffrage Association (IWSA) was a group formed in Indiana in 1851. It started on October 15, 1851, in Dublin, Wayne County, Indiana. Both men and women joined the IWSA. Their main goal was to fight for women's right to vote.
The association held yearly meetings for 26 years. People from all over Indiana came to these meetings. They worked together to find solutions for unfair treatment of women. This included problems in politics, society, and money matters. The IWSA was sometimes called the American Woman Suffrage Association.
What the IWSA Believed
The Rules of the Association
The Indiana Woman's Suffrage Association had a set of rules. These rules explained how the group would work. They were like a guide for everyone involved.
Name and Leaders
The group was officially called the Indiana Woman's Suffrage Association. It had leaders like a president, vice president, and secretaries. There was also a treasurer. These leaders were chosen each year.
Reporting on Women's Lives
The secretary had a special job. They had to write a report every year. This report would talk about how women were doing. It also shared what was being done to help women improve their lives.
Important Topics
At each yearly meeting, people were chosen to report on different topics. These topics were:
- Women's work and pay
- Women's legal rights
- Women's place in society
- Women's education
Meeting Times
The association decided to meet once a year. The time and place for these meetings would be chosen later.
Forming Local Groups
The IWSA also suggested that smaller groups be formed. These "District societies" would be set up across the state. This would help more people get involved.
Changing the Rules
The rules of the association could be changed. This could happen at any regular meeting of the group.
The First Meetings
The first meetings of the IWSA were very important. They set the stage for the group's future work.
October 14, 1851
Morning Session
The first meeting began by choosing leaders. Hannah Hiatt became the first president. Amanda Way was the first vice president. Henry Hiatt was chosen as the first secretary. Hannah Hiatt asked Amanda Way to give the first speech.
Amanda Way explained the meeting's purpose. She said that women needed to demand their rights. She felt that if women did not speak up, they would continue to be treated unfairly. She pointed out that women were often grouped with people who had no say in society.
After her speech, Henry B. Wright was asked to speak. He was a famous speaker against slavery. He gave a powerful speech. The meeting then took a break until the next day.
Evening Session
Hannah Hiatt started the evening meeting. After some quick business, she introduced H. C. Wright again. Wright spoke about unfair property laws. He also talked about how women were paid less than men. He criticized how women were not allowed into high schools and colleges.
October 15, 1851
Morning Session
Amanda Way started the next day's meeting. She read letters from Dr. May F. Thomas and Elizabeth Matchett. They read out ideas for changes to laws. After some discussion, everyone agreed to these ideas.
The people at the meeting believed that all laws should be fair. They felt that everyone who had to follow laws should help make them. H. C. Wright gave another speech, sharing his strong opinions.
Afternoon Session
Many people gave speeches in the afternoon. These included Joel P. Garris, M. R. Hiatt, H. C. Wright, and Henry Hiatt. The members of the association decided to hold their next meeting in one year. They chose Richmond, Indiana, as the location.
Important People to Remember
Many dedicated people helped the Indiana Woman's Suffrage Association. Here are some of them.
People Who Held Positions
Presidents
These women served as president of the IWSA:
- Hannah Hiatt (the very first President)
- L. W. Vandeburg (Lydia)
- Dr. Amelia B. Keller
- Anna D. Noland
- Helen M. Gougar
Vice Presidents
These women were vice president of the IWSA:
- Amanda Way
- Jane Marrow
Secretaries
These people served as secretary of the IWSA:
- Henry Hiatt
- Mary B. Birdsall
Influential Speakers and Supporters
These people signed the IWSA's rules or gave speeches at the meetings:
- H. C. Wright (Henry Clark)
- Wright gave many important speeches. He talked about how men had made laws that treated women unfairly. He explained that women had very few rights, sometimes even less than enslaved people.
- Joel P. Harris
- G. A. Way
- Lydia Davis
- M. J. Diggs (Melissa)
- Fanny Hiatt
- Agnes Cook
