The campaign for women's suffrage was first discussed just before the civil war, when women were had prominent roles in society. Women were fighting against the "Cult of True Womanhood" or "Cult of Domesticity" which was the idea that women were devoted and submissive wives or mothers who committed herself to the home and family. In 1848, a group of women and men gathered at Seneca falls to discuss issues with women's rights. The delegates agreed that women were equals to men and must have access to the same rights.
During and after the civil war, the campaign had lost much of its momentum. However, some women believed that it was an opportunity to fight for truly universal voting rights. In 1869, the National Women's Suffrage Association was formed to advocate these rights. This group was opposed to 15th amendment rights for African Americans because they believed that they were entitled to suffrage as well. Another group of supporters of the 15th Amendment formed, called the American Women Suffrage Association. They fought on a state- by state basis for franchise. The two groups eventually merged and began to advocate that they deserved rights because they were different from men. This would use the status quo to benefit the case for women's voting rights. There were many opposing views on why women deserved the right to vote, however,
Women's suffrage finally became a reality on a state level starting at 1910. NAWSA president Carrie Chapman Catt organized the "winning plan" or a blitz campaign to mobilize state and local suffrage moments. More radical groups engaged in hunger strikes and white house pickets.
Women's efforts in WWI were also commended by the government as they were able to work on behalf of the nation towards victory. The 19th Amendment was finally ratified in 1920 and women first voted in the 1920 election.
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