The term “Suffrage” is referred to as the right to vote. Therefore women’s suffrage is the right of women to vote. The women suffrage movement was the struggle to get the same right to vote as men. It lasted at least seventy years. The first formal convention was the Seneca Falls Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. It was organized in 1848, after women became aware of their unequal status in society, particularly their lack of suffrage. Elizabeth Stanton and Lucretia Mott launched the first woman suffrage movement in the United States. Before the 19th Century, people thought that property owners had the strongest interest in good government so they were therefore qualified to make the right decisions. So during the colonial period, voting was restricted to white adult males who owned property. Therefore in the early 19th Century when social changes occurred for women and the idea of equality came along with it, women all over the United States decided to stage the women right movements. By then, more women were receiving education. Women also began to participate in reform movements and take increased interest in politics. Women and men began to question why women were not also allowed to vote. Supporters of this drive were called suffragists. Women suffrage became the popular topic for discussion. Women believed that if they were allowed to vote they would be able to correct the social injustice rendered to them. They would be able to use it to gain other rights. However many people opposed women gaining the right to vote. They believed that men could make the decisions for women better than a woman could for herself. Some people believed women were less intelligent and could not make an effective political decision than men. Others believe if women became active in politics, they would abandon the family life. When the 15th Amendment was made to the Constitution in which black men were allowed to vote, women suffrage became stronger. Two Suffrage Associations were formed in 1869. The National Woman Suffrage Association which called for an amendment to the Constitution was more radical. It was led by Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Anthony was arrested in Rochester, NY for voting and she was fined for voting illegally. The other association was the American Woman Suffrage Association which was more conservative. It was led by Lucy Stone and her husband, Henry Blackwell. However the two joined together to formed the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1890. Finally, in 1919, Congress passed the 19th Amendment granting suffrage rights to women. Around the 1800s and 1900s, Suffrage movements also arose around the world. New Zealand was the first nation to grant its female citizen, full voting rights in 1893. In 1902, Australia granted full voting rights to women. However, American women were given right to vote before English women. Many campaigns for women suffrage were held in England.

Bibliography:

http://www2.worldbook.com/features/whm/html/whm010.html
www.42explore2.com/suffrage.htm