Example Of Elizabeth Cady's Speech In Declaration Of Sentiments And Resolutions

In Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s text “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions,” she states her opinion and the opinion of other women of her time, about The Declaration of Independence and that it is a demand for freedom to one-half the entire race. Which was all men. This text really connects to me and I agree with her view on the subject of The Declaration of Independence. In the beginning of Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions Stanton starts off with a statement about how the course of human events and laws of nature declare that God entitled mankind the position of people among the earth.

At the Seneca Falls Convention in July 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton drafted a document, titled the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, that addressed the several issues that women faced in American society. Decades prior to the convention, founding fathers gathered together and wrote the Declaration of Independence, which became an example for the Declaration of Sentiments. Stanton modified a few words and phrases from the Declaration of Independence’s Preamble and Declaration of Natural Rights so that it would match her causes. However, her adaptation of the List of Grievances and the Resolution differed greatly from the original. I believe that Stanton’s motive for mimicking the Declaration of Independence was to take John Locke’s

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born in November 1815 to Margaret Livingston and Daniel Cady in Johnstown, New York. She was educated at Johnstown Academy and Emma Willard's Troy Seminary and her father tutored her in law. Having lost her brother Eleazar in 1826, Elizabeth sought success to console her father. After her graduation from the seminary in 1833, she developed an interest in reform politics through staying at her cousin, Gerrit Smith's home one summer. She soon met her husband Henry Stanton and their honeymoon was spent at an 1840 international anti-slavery convention in London.

The idea of all men are created equal is specious because there were Slavery, and women did not have equal rights as men. Sources A, B, C, D, show how the statement “all men are created equal” is hypocritical. The Declaration of Independence, from Source A, provides the reader that the Declaration of Natural Rights is false. In Source B, the letter from Abigail Adams shows how men had “unlimited power,” and women did not have the ability to vote, own property, or speak out in Congress. In Source C, it conveys how Slavery provoked unfair rights, embittered lives, and the loss of natural rights.

He replied to her plea in a letter of his own claiming “…, We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems” (Adams 57). Despite the support John Adams had of women gaining independence, he knew that other men were not. Over seventy years later, while petitioning for the rights of women, Susan B. Anthony frequently addressed the opposing side of the debate against the women’s suffrage movement. In her noteworthy speech given in New York about the bias of rejecting women’s suffrage, she identified the notable argument which was the cornerstone of the anti-women side of the debate. Anthony counseled, “It is urged that the use of the masculine pronouns he, his and him in all the constitutions and laws, is proof that only men we meant to be included in their provisions” (Anthony 281).

However, when thought of, most people remember her contributions to the women’s rights movement. She, and other feminists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, began to realize that there were numerous similarities between slaves and women. Both were fighting to get away from the male-dominated culture and beliefs. In 1848, these women began a convention in Seneca Falls, regarding women’s rights(Brinkley 330). They believed that women should be able to vote, basing their argument on the clause “all men and women are created equal”.

Many men do not comprehend the importance of women’s rights, therefore in order to convince the people with power, Stanton compares the fight for equality to the prestigious and impactful founding fathers. Stanton structures the beginning of her argument almost exactly the same as the Declaration of Independence; however, Stanton changes certain phrases and words to express her message for the importance of women’s suffrage and “...that all men and women are created equal...” (Stanton). Since America is founded on freedom and independence, individuals are compelled to agree with Stanton’s message of equality. If people object to Stanton’s views, they are also rejecting the importance of the founding fathers' necessity for independence due to the structuring of her message.

Lucretia Mott was an official delegate that was supposed to speak at the world anti-slavery convention in London but she was revoked from these privileges because she was a woman. This upset Mott but, it lit a fire in her when she met Elizabeth Stanton because she was a modern feminist. The both of them decided to write “The Declaration of Sentiments” because they wanted gender equality. They saw how many of the women's unalienable rights were taken away due to men thinking they were more important. Stanton and Mott admits, “She had no voice”(2).

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal” (Notabelbiographies.com), Elizabeth Cady Stanton changed the words of our founding fathers ever so slightly. This was fitting since she is known as a leading figure of the early women's rights movement. Through her diligent work, she helped change the world for women. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born November 12, 1815 in Johnstown, New York (Biography.com). She was the daughter of Daniel Cady and Margaret Livingston Cady (Biography.com).

Elizabeth Stanton was a female abolitionist in the mid-1800s America, who created the speech ‘Declaration of Sentiments’ that argues for the rights of women. The speech was ineffective despite the use of allusions because it didn't have much of an effect till decades after. Stanton uses an allusion for the entirety of her speech, since most people would have known of the declaration of independence at this time, people would be able to understand the significance of this speech by it alluding to such an important piece of US history. She uses “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal” and inputs women alongside men, having it read as “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all man and women are created

The first Paragraph is the most important, as it sets the tone for the rest of the speech; however, the tone shifts from the harsh and abrasive harping on men, to how society can move forward and bring about balance if women have more of a say in how things are run. Towards the end of the speech Stanton’s tone remarkably differs from the initial tearing down of men, to the pleading for equality, “There is a striking analogy between matter and mind, and the present disorganization of society warns us that in the dethronement of women we have let loose the elements of violence and ruin that she only has the power to curb.”. Here Stanton rests the current chaos of society on both genders shoulders when she says “we” rather than addressing just men. She concludes her speech eloquently and with professional composure, pleading with the government to aid the repair of society with women by man’s

Stanton states, “When the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man” (Stanton 1). Stanton used this line to start her declaration as Thomas Jefferson used it in the first line of the Declaration of Independence. Using such a well trusted piece of writing that helped shaped the United States increases her credibility which helps her case in her argument. Another point in Stanton’s view, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: in that all men and women are created equal” (Stanton 1). This line starts the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, but Stanton added in “women” instead of just “men”.

Stanton’s “Declaration of Sentiments” was the first convention for women rights. Its purpose was to address the status of American women. Stanton felt that women were feeling they were getting shorted and disrespected of their rights. It was a list of resolutions to the problems dealing with their rights. She also included needs for women’s right to education, property, and vote.

In today’s world, it seems to be that women have the same rights as men, but it wasn't always this way. The speech “Women’s Rights to Suffrage” by Susan B Anthony is the most compelling of all. Susan B Anthony persuades the audience that all women should have the same rights as men. It’s shown through the speech that the federal constitution says “we the people”, the government has no right to take away rights from just one gender, and that women are considered people as well. The fact that the constitution says “we the people” is a primary point in this speech.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an equal rights activist and suffragist. Before her work as a feminist, Elizabeth was an active abolitionist with with her husband and cousin. Unlike a lot of of women’s rights activists, she focuses on much more than suffrage and voting rights. She fought many battles still fought today. Elizabeth gave a speech titled “The Destructive Male” at a women’s rights convention in Washington D.C. in 1868.