Literary Research Paper

If I could do this paper over I would change a lot. I saved my original essay on my USB and later found out that it was gone. Everything on my USB was deleted. I then had to go back and retype it, but I had made changes to my written draft. I am not really happy with the final product. When I read it again, it seemed a little under-developed. I went into writing this piece with a lot of thoughts and opinions on the subject of women's rights and the contributions of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, but I don't think my thoughts effectively.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Women’s Rights Movement

On July 11, 1948, an advertisement appeared in the N.Y. County Courier announcing a Women’s Rights Convention. This convention was designed “to discuss the social, civil and religious condition and rights of women.” This convention served as the basis for the Women’s Rights Movement and launched the political career of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. In a time when women were expected to stay home and attend to the home and children, Elizabeth Cady Stanton broke down barriers for women and set into motion events that shaped the future for women in this country.

Born in a time ruled solely by men, Stanton learned early that there was more value placed on males than on females. After the deaths of all her brothers, her father told her that he wished she had been born a male, and from that time forward Elizabeth questioned the role of women in society as dictated by men. Even in her marriage Elizabeth sought an equality that was unheard of in her time; she struck the word obey from her marriage vows and kept her maiden name. Her early-married life exposed her to a wide variety of inspiring people that encouraged her to formulate new ideas and push the bounds of societal rules. On a trip to London shortly after her marriage, Elizabeth and her husband Henry Brewster Stanton attended an antislavery convention where she met Lucretia Mott. Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were outraged to learn that the women delegates would not be allowed to speak at the convention and were forced to sit behind a screen segregated from the men. Mott and Stanton pledged to hold a convention and start a society for advocating the rights of women upon their return to the U.S.

The Women’s Rights Convention held in Seneca N.Y. on July 10^th and 20^th 1848 was the fulfillment of the pledge made by Mott and Stanton. The first day of the meeting was to be for women only and the Declaration of Sentiments was presented to the assembly. This declaration, which was modeled after the Declaration of Independence, was read aloud by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Some changes were made before it was presented the next day in front of more than 300 men and women from all walks of life. A major point of contention was the resolution calling for the right of women to vote. Elizabeth was bold to suggest such a resolution, and even Elizabeth’s husband and Lucretia Mott questioned the wisdom of adding it to the Declaration for fear that it would cause readers to dismiss the entire document. Her best support came from the former slave and abolitionist orator Fredrick Douglas. Douglas spoke to the assembly, pushing them to accept the idea of women having the vote, because without it women would always be powerless against the men. His speech inspired the attendees to pass all of the resolutions, and at the end of the convention, 68 men and 32 women had signed the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions.

The Declaration of Sentiments served as a form of rebellion against the laws and customs of society at the time. Modern readers may be surprised at some of the items contained in the document, but as the Declaration says, “The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman”. This statement emphasizes the importance of the entire movement. The Declaration of Sentiments provides support for the above statement and includes examples of the inequality of women that it hopes to rectify, especially those focused on women achieving the same voting rights as men:

“He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise.

He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice.

He has withheld form her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men – both natives and foreigners.

Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides.”

Without the right to vote, women would always remain under the control of men. It was not enough for the men to agree to grant the women certain considerations relating to property and wages; the ultimate goal was for women to vote. Some did not seem to support this notion, but Elizabeth Cady Stanton, with help from Susan B. Anthony, worked to secure the right of women to vote.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was quoted in a speech in 1894 as saying,

“The isolation of every human soul and the necessity of self-dependence must give each individual the right to choose his own surroundings. The strongest reason for giving woman all the opportunities for higher education, for the full development of her faculties, her forces of mind and body; for giving her the most enlarged freedom of thought and action; a complete emancipation from all forms of bondage, of custom, dependence, superstition; from all crippling influences of fear - is the solitude and personal responsibility of her own individual life. The strongest reason we ask for woman a voice in the government under which she lives; in the religion she is asked to believe; equality in social life, where she is chief factor; a place in the trades and professions, where she may earn her bread, is because of her birthright to self-sovereignty; because, as an individual, she must rely on herself.”

These powerful and passionate words summarize the goal of the Women’s Rights Movement. Women were the property of their fathers and husbands they were basically slaves. Although not always suffering the same abuses as a slave, they didn’t have any more rights. Men were drafting laws that were expanding the rights of Negroes and immigrants but still subjugating women. Women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony spoke out against male-dominated society, and were not afraid to stand up to the criticism and ridicule that they faced. Elizabeth especially wanted her daughter to have a future where she was responsible for her own destiny. Her courage led to the formation of societies across the nation that pushed for equality for women.

In 1869 Elizabeth joined Susan B. Anthony in forming the National Woman Suffrage Association. This organization became active in both Negro and woman suffrage and later combined with the American Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The work of Elizabeth Cady Stanton had long reaching and lasting consequences on American women. There would not be a history of women in the 19^th century if it weren’t for her efforts. She and the other members of the association managed to change laws regarding the rights of women to own property and share custody of their own children. Elizabeth also pushed for easier divorce and equality of employment and pay. She felt that it was necessary for women to have the ability to leave abusive marriages and support themselves. She was probably one of the earliest domestic violence opponents. Elizabeth Cady Stanton continued her fight for women until her death in 1902. Unfortunately, she did not live to see the day in 1920 when 8 million women were allowed to vote.

Instead of being resigned to the life that was being created for her by men, Elizabeth fought for her own voice and therefore for the voices of women today. Considered unladylike and bold in her time, she is looked upon today as a hero. American women have come far since Elizabeth Cady Stanton started the Women’s Right Movement, but there are still areas of the world where women still live under the control of men. Elizabeth’s remarkable accomplishments need to be remembered as we continue to fight for the equality of all people, regardless of sex, color, and religion.

Works Referenced

Murphy, John Patrick Michael. "ELIZABETH CADY STANTON (1999)." 1999. 29 Nov 2006. .

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. “Declaration of Sentiments.” Heath Anthology of American Literature. Vol. B. Lauter, Paul. 5th ed. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, Co., 2006.

"The Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony Papers Project." 29 Nov 2006. .

US National Parks Service. "Elizabeth Cady Stanton." Malone, David, Park Ranger. 29 Nov 2006. . Simkin, John. "Elizabeth Cady Stanton." 29 Nov. 2004. .