That is, of course, a popular view and one that would make sense in part. However it was a bit more complicated. In fact, some legislatures--such as NY--used the ACW as an excuse to roll back gains made in women's rights. But, during the war, plans were made for the 11th National Womans' Rights Convention. Many of the leaders (in both movements) remained engaged in both issues: women like Martha Wright.
To the first part, the very fact that there was a split indicated that there were two sides to this story. To the second, NO: there was no severance of ties (at least on a general scale--women are no different than men in that they don't like to be disagreed with and some--truth to be told--held grudges
). In fact, after the war, there was a reunification. What made a severance appear likely was that, with abolition an accomplished fact, activists could concentrate on their own rights.
Through her friendship with Frances Seward, Mrs. Stanton had the ear of Secretary Seward and on the president himself.
To your final point, there was indeed a difference based in racism. Difficult for more committed abolitionists who greatly held to racial equality. This troubled the alliance but it didn't end it.
In the end, my point still holds: the women's movement grew out of abolitionism.
Sources:
Dorothy Wickenden:
The Agitators
Ms. Wickenden is a journalist and executive editor of the New Yorker.
Manisha Sinha
:
- The Slave's Cause;
- Lecture on Feminism sponsored by Boston University, Spring 2021
Dr. Sinha is a specialist in Nineteenth Century United States history: Transnational histories of slavery, abolition, and feminism,
the History and Legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction at the University of Connecticut where she holds the Draper Chair of
History
Elisabeth Griffin:
In Her Own Right: the life of Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Dr. Griffin is an independent historian who focuses on women's history (politics, leadership, etc.); she has ties to Georgetown
University
Timeline of the Women's Suffrage Movement: 1850-1868 Anthony, Association, Blackwell, Bloomer, Clark, Court, Davis, Douglass, Elections, Equal Rights, Foster, Garrison, Male, Property, Severance, Smith, Stanton, Stone, Stowe, Truth, Vineland (online)
My own research notes from a 2020 project done for a chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society on the Right to Vote and its background.
I, myself, am nobody in particular but my research went deep into the topic.
edited for grammar