Anna Howard Shaw - Role in The Women's Suffrage Movement - Resignation From NAWSA

Resignation From NAWSA

During the early 20th century, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, NAWSA members, began employing militant techniques (e.g. picketing the White House during World War I) to fight for women's suffrage. They, like other members, were inspired by the success of the militant suffragettes in England. As president of NAWSA, Shaw was pressured to support these tactics. Nevertheless, Shaw maintained that she was "unalterably opposed to militancy, believing that nothing of permanent value has ever been secured by it that could not have been more easily obtained by peaceful methods.” She remained aligned with Anthony's philosophy that was against any militant tactics. This problem within NAWSA brewed much aggression among NAWSA members toward Shaw. Despite her oratorical prowess, Shaw "lacked the administrative, organizational, and philosophical strengths necessary for leading the NAWSA". In 1915, she resigned as NAWSA president and was replaced by her ally Carrie Chapman Catt.