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[[Susan B. Anthony]], a long-time leader in the suffrage movement, was the dominant figure in the newly formed NAWSA. [[Carrie Chapman Catt]], who became president after Anthony retired in 1900, implemented a strategy of recruiting wealthy members of the rapidly growing [[women's club (United States)|women's club]] movement, whose time, money and experience could help build the suffrage movement. [[Anna Howard Shaw]]'s term in office, which began in 1904, saw strong growth in the organization's membership and public approval.
After the Senate decisively rejected the proposed women's suffrage amendment to the [[Constition of the United States|United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]] in 1887, the suffrage movement had concentrated most of its efforts on state suffrage campaigns. In 1910 [[Alice Paul]] joined the NAWSA and played a major role in reviving interest in the national amendment. After continuing conflicts with the NAWSA leadership over tactics, Paul created a rival organization, the [[National Woman's Party]].
When Catt again became president in 1915, the NAWSA adopted her plan to centralize the organization, and work toward the suffrage amendment as its primary goal. This was done despite opposition from Southern members who believed that a federal amendment would erode [[states' rights]]. With its large membership and the increasing number of women voters in states where suffrage had already been achieved, the NAWSA began to operate more as a political pressure group than an educational group. It won additional sympathy for the suffrage cause by actively cooperating with the war effort during World War I. On February 14, 1920, several months prior to the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, the NAWSA transformed itself into the [[League of Women Voters]], which is still active.
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