The Declaration of Independence stands as a representation of justice, equality, and natural human rights. With it being written to liberate the American citizens from British control; allowing the citizens to live freely as they wish - as equal humans. However, there are numerous discrepancies and controversies to this document. Especially in the field of gender-equality and women 's rights. Mary Wollstonecraft, writer of A Vindication of the Rights of Women, is a forerunner of this movement. Comparing her work to the Declaration of Independence, it can be seen that Wollstonecraft 's work can be served as a critique against the masculinity put forth in the Declaration of Independence. With the declaration making numerous remarks with recognition
Early history, dating back before the women’s suffrage movement, is a key factor to the initiation to the fight for women’s rights. As far back as the Declaration of Independence, women who owned property actually had the right to vote in New Jersey but it took thirty years and that was no longer allowed in the beginning of the 1800’s (Roberts, Smith). The factor that sparked the Women’s Suffrage Movement was Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott being excluded from the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention due to the fact they were females (Smiltneek). This led the women to composing the Declaration of Sentiment and Resolutions. It is a document laying out the concerns pertaining to women. Seneca Falls, New York marks the inception of the movement for women’s suffrage. This historical phase took place in the year of 1848 when Elizabeth Cady Stanton along with Lucretia Mott endorsed their document. In addition to signing this document, they also composed it. Points they addressed in their testimony included the lack of education arranged for women as well as occupational openings, and laws regarding to custody of childre...
However, the writers of the Constitution had omitted women in that pivotal statement which left women to be denied these “unalienable” rights given to every countryman. Gaining the support of many, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the leader of the Women’s Rights Movement declared at Seneca Falls that women had the same rights as men including the right to vote and be a part of government. The Women’s Rights movement gained support due to the years of abuse women endured. For years, men had “the power to chastise and imprison his wife…” and they were tired of suffering (Doc I). The new concept of the cult of domesticity supported women’s roles in society but created greater divisions between men and women.
Women had limited rights during the 19th Century. The Seneca Falls convention was a woman’s rights convention located in Seneca Falls in what is today known as Finger Lakes District (Page 3). This convention paved the road to help women gain rights and to stop being so dependent on men. At this time period women were not allowed to vote, own land, have a professional career, they only received minor education, etc. In an interesting book, Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women’s Rights Movement, by Sally G. McMillen she explains the widespread significance of the convention that changed women’s history. From 1840 to 1890, over the course of 50 years. Four astonishing women; Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B Anthony and Lucy
The entire Women’s Movement in the United States has been quite extensive. It can be traced back to 1848, when the first women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. After two days of discussions, 100 men and women signed the Declaration of Sentiments. Drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, this document called for equal treatment of women and men under the law and voting rights for women. This gathering set the agenda for the rest of the Women’s Movement long ago (Imbornoni). Over the next 100 years, many women played a part in supporting equal treatment for women, most notably leading to the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which allowed women the right to vote.
This discrimination towards this sex was reinforced by the idea that women was made for man. Not only was this idea prevalent within society but it furthermore is resonated through the laws and documents the government put in place. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony fought to establish equality between both sexes within the nation. This is illustrated within the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions at Seneca Falls when these women stated, “The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object he establishment of an absolute tyranny over her.” This quote expresses the past of women rights and how from the beginning of time women have been seen as inferior to man. This furthermore resonated to express the idea that women were not only inferior but also a material object in a man’s life. Stanton and Anthony put a large emphasis into this ideal, making it their driving force into establishing women’s rights in America.
McMillen, S. (2008). Seneca falls and the origins of the women 's rights movement. New York: Oxford University Press.
One hundred and fifty years ago this summer, in the little country town of SENECA FALLS in upstate New York, several dozen excited women and a few interested men held the first meeting in the world devoted solely to women’s rights. It was 1848, the “springtime of the peoples” in Europe; and, although these Americans were far removed from the emancipatory proclamations in Europe, they caught the fever and produced one of their own, the Declaration of Sentiments: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.” Compared to the apocalypticism of The Communist Manifesto, another product of that year, the SENECA FALLS Declaration seems modest, a relic of right-thinking republicanism rather than a portent of wrenching revolutionary transformation. Yet its effects were destined to be no less profound, and far more benign.
Although her early days as a housewife were fulfilling, the work become depressing and she took pity on women in the area who were abused, beaten, and treated like slaves. Suddenly, she received an invitation, along with other women’s rights activists, from Lucretia Mott to meet in Waterloo to discuss a pivotal point on Stanton’s career--the Seneca Falls Convention, After a two-day planning meeting, the fifty women planned the Seneca Falls Convention to be five days after. From July 19-20, 1848, over 300 people attended, including Sojourner Truth, 40 men and Frederick Douglass, Quakers from nearby cities, and the Society of Friends. These people signed the Declaration of Sentiments, written by Elizabeth Stanton and modeled after the Declaration of Independence, which addressed women’s inability to vote, the denial to own property, unequal rights in divorce and marriage, equal opportunity to education, and their status under men. Moreover, those who signed declared how they’re advocating for women’s suffrage and a reform of property and marital laws in the United States. Its success led to a second convention in Rochester and more women having conventions throughout the United States between
There were many women, who thought the fact of not being able to vote was outrageous. They wanted the same rights as men and nothing was going to stop them. Obtaining the right to vote wasn’t going to be an easy process for women. So the many campaigns, petitions, pickets and organizations in the mid 1800’s to the early 1900’s were a start to many rights. This lengthy process began on July 19, 1848. On this day the Seneca Falls Convention took place in New York, New York. Over 200 men and women came in participated and gave their opinions on votin...