Manhattan Women's Anti-Suffrage League

Manhattan Women's Anti-Suffrage League was a prominent organization that opposed the women's suffrage movement in the early 20th century, with notable figures such as Ida Tarbell, Alice Wadsworth, and Josephine Jewell Dodge playing key roles. The league was part of a broader movement that included groups like the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage and the New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, which counted Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft among its supporters. The Manhattan Women's Anti-Suffrage League was also connected to other anti-suffrage organizations, such as the Massachusetts Association Opposed to the Further Extension of Suffrage to Women and the Pennsylvania Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, which were led by women like Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge and Mrs. William D. Lewis. The league's activities were often at odds with those of pro-suffrage groups, including the National American Woman Suffrage Association led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

● History

The Manhattan Women's Anti-Suffrage League was formed in 1911, a time when the women's suffrage movement was gaining momentum, with key events like the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession and the 1917 National Woman's Party pickets taking place. The league's history is closely tied to that of other anti-suffrage organizations, such as the New Jersey Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage and the Connecticut Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, which were led by women like Mrs. J. Warren Perry and Mrs. Charles L. Bernheimer. The league's members, including Ida Tarbell and Alice Wadsworth, were often involved in debates and discussions with pro-suffrage activists, such as Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, who were part of the National Woman's Party. The league's activities were also influenced by the broader social and political context, including the Progressive Era and the Women's Christian Temperance Union led by Frances Willard.

● Formation and Purpose

The Manhattan Women's Anti-Suffrage League was formed by a group of women who were opposed to the idea of women's suffrage, including Josephine Jewell Dodge and Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge. The league's purpose was to educate the public about the potential dangers of women's suffrage, which they believed would lead to the erosion of traditional values and the breakdown of society, as argued by Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. The league's members, including Ida Tarbell and Alice Wadsworth, were often involved in writing articles and giving speeches, such as the 1912 speech by Ida Tarbell and the 1915 speech by Alice Wadsworth, to promote their views and counter the arguments of pro-suffrage activists, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. The league was also connected to other anti-suffrage organizations, such as the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage and the New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, which counted Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft among its supporters.

● Notable Members

The Manhattan Women's Anti-Suffrage League had several notable members, including Ida Tarbell, Alice Wadsworth, and Josephine Jewell Dodge. Other notable members included Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge and Mrs. William D. Lewis, who were involved in the New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage and the Pennsylvania Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. The league's members were often prominent women in their communities, such as Mrs. J. Warren Perry and Mrs. Charles L. Bernheimer, who were involved in the New Jersey Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage and the Connecticut Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. The league's members were also connected to other notable figures, such as Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, who supported the anti-suffrage movement, as well as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, who led the pro-suffrage movement.

● Activities and Campaigns

The Manhattan Women's Anti-Suffrage League was involved in a range of activities and campaigns to promote their views and counter the arguments of pro-suffrage activists, such as the National American Woman Suffrage Association led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. The league's members, including Ida Tarbell and Alice Wadsworth, wrote articles and gave speeches, such as the 1912 speech by Ida Tarbell and the 1915 speech by Alice Wadsworth, to promote their views and counter the arguments of pro-suffrage activists. The league was also involved in organizing events, such as the 1913 anti-suffrage rally and the 1915 anti-suffrage convention, which were attended by notable figures, including Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. The league's activities were often at odds with those of pro-suffrage groups, including the National Woman's Party led by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns.

● Legacy and Impact

The Manhattan Women's Anti-Suffrage League played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement, with its members, including Ida Tarbell and Alice Wadsworth, contributing to the debate and discussion around the issue. The league's activities and campaigns, such as the 1913 anti-suffrage rally and the 1915 anti-suffrage convention, helped to shape public opinion and influence the outcome of key events, such as the 1917 New York State suffrage referendum and the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment. The league's legacy can be seen in the work of other anti-suffrage organizations, such as the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage and the New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, which counted Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft among its supporters. The league's impact can also be seen in the broader social and political context, including the Progressive Era and the Women's Christian Temperance Union led by Frances Willard.

Category:Women's suffrage in the United States