What was the most significant cause of division within the women's suffrage movement in the U.S. in the late 19th century?

The division within the women's suffrage movement in the U.S. in the late 19th century was significantly influenced by the issue of whether to support the extension of voting rights to African American men following the Civil War. Many women, particularly those who backed the suffrage movement, found themselves in a complex situation following the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870, which granted African American men the right to vote but did not include women.

This created a rift within the movement, with some women’s suffrage advocates arguing that prioritizing the fight for their own voting rights should take precedence over the rights of African American men. Others believed that they should stand in solidarity with African American activists and support universal suffrage that included both women and Black men. This disagreement highlighted deeper tensions between race and gender within the movement and ultimately led to the formation of separate organizations and strategies for women's suffrage based on these differing priorities.

Understanding this context is key to grasping the complexities of the women's suffrage movement and why it faced such significant internal conflicts during this period.