Declaration of Sentiments
The Declarations of sentiments was arguably the most significant document in
history for the advancement of women in the nineteenth century America. It was made
famous at the first Woman’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York, in July
of 1848. Drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the declaration outlined a series of
grievances resulting from the unfair treatment of women and proposed eleven resolutions
arguing that women had the right to equality in all aspects of their lives, including the
right to vote. Despite the declarations significance, however, it would be seventy-two
years later that women finally won the right to vote.
In early societies, women bore
…show more content…
It also
protested unequal employment opportunities. Stanton read the declaration paragraph by
paragraph, and over the two-days of discussion, the Declaration of Sentiments and 12
resolutions received agreement endorsement, one by one, with a few amendments.
The only resolution that did not pass unanimously was the call for women’s
authorization.
The Seneca Falls convention generated widespread ridicule and even hostility,
primarily from religious leaders and the press. An article in the Philadelphia Public
Ledger and Daily Transcript (September 1848) opined that, unlike the Seneca Falls
women, the women of Philadelphia were “celebrated for discretion, modesty, and
unfeigned diffidence” rather than “standing out for woman’s rights.” After all, the writer
reasoned, “A woman is nobody. A wife is everything. A pretty girl is equal to ten
thousand men, and a mother is, next to God, all powerful……The ladies of Philadelphia,
3 Metz
therefore…..are resolved to maintain their rights as wives, belles, virgins, and mothers,
and not as women” (Stanton, Anthony, and Gage, p. 804).
Women’s rights conventions were held on a regular basis until the start of the
Civil War. Elizabeth Cady Stanton traveled the country lecturing and organizing for
The Declaration of Sentiments was an extremely influential document because it demanded civil liberties for women in the first women's rights convention. This is important as it shows women were no longer afraid from challenging current social barriers. In the first paragraph, Stanton makes it very clear how fiercely she’s advocating for these rights. She argues that rights should be given because all people were created equal. God, as she puts it, did not give one individual the power to rule over others, regardless of different characteristics (e.g. gender and race). By using “God” in this context, it shows Stanton as a religious person; therefore, someone who believes in a higher power than government and men. However, it was noted in the
“The Declarations of Sentiments and Resolutions” by Elizabeth Cady Stanton is an interesting and persuasive essay on women's rights and equality. The essay uses pathos, logos, and ethos to capture the reader's attention and draw them in into this argumentative piece. Each appeal deeply exercises the importance of equality for both men and women. Throughout her essay, Stanton uses pathos, logos, and ethos to draw the reader's attention and persuade them to stand up for women inequality.
Every woman has the right to moral, legal and political choice. As we look to the past, women fought for the right to be treated the same as men and fundamentally to have the same rights as men. Prior to the turn of the century, women had little to no rights. World War I and II gave way to change, allowing women to work and eventually allowing them to vote. The feminist movement has made drastic progress since the war. Today women are seen as equal and have the right not only to vote, but to be educated. In 1977 the Canadian Human Rights Act ensured that women could no longer be discriminated based on their sex, race, religion or sexuality. The act specified that there must be “equal pay for
Elizabeth Stanton wrote, “The Declaration of Sentiments” in 1848 during the same time the Suffrage Movement came into effect. The Suffrage Movement took
The Declaration of Sentiments is modeled after the Declaration of Independence because they are both have the same wording, and they cover the same concepts but it is directed toward women wanting their rights. For instance, the Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" (Declaration of Independence). This statement from the Declaration of Independence shows that they wanted freedom, and they thought that all men were created equal. The Declaration of Independence never says anything about women being equal, and that is exactly what the Declaration of Sentiments is about. The Declaration of Sentiments says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and
The declaration states that men have had "absolute tyranny" over women throughout all of history, and it is this idea that has prevented the progression of women's abilities an talents.1 The declaration continues to say that women have been robbed of their inalienable rights, rights to hold property, representation in government, an education, job opportunities, and many other rights that have only been applicable to men in the past.2 The ideas and concepts suggested in the Seneca Falls Declaration evoked strong feelings of equality among women, and it also sparked anger amongst men.
Women have always been fighting for their rights for voting, the right to have an abortion, equal pay as men, being able to joined the armed forces just to name a few. The most notable women’s rights movement was headed in Seneca Falls, New York. The movement came to be known as the Seneca Falls convention and it was lead by women’s rights activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton during July 19th and 20th in 1848. Stanton created this convention in New York because of a visit from Lucretia Mott from Boston. Mott was a Quaker who was an excellent public speaker, abolitionist and social reformer. She was a proponent of women’s rights. The meeting lasted for only two days and was compiled of six sessions, which included lectures on law, humorous
Only two of the participants of the convention were able to live to see the addition of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
The first women’s right convention was held in Seneca Falls, NY with about 300 attendees which include women and men, such as Frederick Douglas. Whereas the agenda was clear to abolition all social, economic, and legal discrimination against women.
On the first day 19th of July, “Declaration of Sentiments and Grievances” were present. Thomas Jefferson primarily wrote the declaration it contains 18 charges against George III, the King of England. In repeated injuries on part of man towards woman, includes that the denial of right to vote, unfair law regarding separation and divorce, inequality of religion, education and employment and as well in other fields. Apart from that, it includes 12 resolutions for equal participation of women in every field.
Women have virtually the same rights as men. However, the fault needing to be recognized in today’s society is the way that women are treated. Even in simple areas, such as jobs, women are put on the back burner. A woman is able to become a CEO of a company, nonetheless, she will struggle twice as hard as a man would. Even as an employee, women are statistically paid less than men are.
The Seneca Falls convention was the first of many for the women’s suffrage movement. For years, Lucy Stone, Paulina Kellogg Wright Davis, Abby Kelley Foster hosted the National Women’s Rights Convention. It was annually held in Akron, Ohio and brought together women all over who supported women’s suffrage and women’s rights. The women gave speeches, discussed their views, and planned ways to further their cause. One speech that Lucy Stone gave persuaded Susan B. Anthony to join the movement. Sojourner Truth presented her speech “Ain’t I A Women” that left her crowd speechless and amazed. She was a former slave who was an advocate for Negro suffrage. In her speech, she proclaimed that equal rights were either given to only intelligent white men and women. This convention eventually brought Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony together and with
The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, the first women's rights convention in American history, was an outgrowth of almost twenty years of female activity in social reform. Elizabeth Cady
still lag behind men, we need an Equal Rights Amendment more than ever (Hennessey 3). The real issue, claim some supporters, is the "right to bodily integrity, and without this basic right, women can have no true freedom" (NOW 2). Legal sex discrimination is not a thing of the past, and the progress of the last forty years is not irreversible without the protection of an amendment (Francis 1).Feminist claim that "The ERA's most valuable effect would be the psychological victory it would provide women" (Steiner 35). Women are underpaid in the workforce, required to pay higher insurance premiums and are half as likely as men to get pensions (NOW 4). Supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment remind us of a traditional assumption, Men hold rights and women must prove that they hold them" (Francis 2). Supporter claim amazement that, "Even in the twenty first century, the United States Constitution does not explicitly guarantee that all the rights it protects are held equally by all citizens" (Francis 4). Supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment believe that "unless we put into the Constitution the bedrock principle that equality of rights cannot be denied or abridged on account of sex, the political and judicial victories women have achieved with their blood, sweat and tears for the past two
Women, their rights and nothing less.” This is her point of view on the way women were