We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
~The Declaration of Sentiments
The Declaration of sentiments 1848
The Declaration of Sentiments was drafted at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The Declaration, based on the Declaration of Independence, demanded equality between sexes before the law, in education, and employment. Of the 300 attendees at the convention 100 total people signed the declaration, 68 women and 32 men. The Declaration included eighteen injustices done by men against women, just as the Declaration of Independence had eighteen grievances toward the King of England. All of the eighteen grievances were unanimously agreed upon ranging from being denied a proper education to the most controversial grievance, being denied the right to vote. The right to vote was almost not put on the Declaration for a fear of not being taken seriously but between Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglas' speeches they were able to convince the convention to add the right to vote.
GRIEVANCES of the declaration of sentiments
He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice |
Women had no say in any laws as they were prohibited to vote. This grievance was one of the most controversial and just barely won the vote to be on the Declaration but was granted to women in 1920.
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He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead |
Another grievance deals with how married women were regarded in the eyes of the law. Once married a woman had no rights and everything she once had became her husbands, including all property and money.
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He has monopolized nearly all the profitable employments, and from those she is permitted to follow, she receives but a scanty remuneration. |
This grievance deals with the limited number of job opportunities that were available to women. Teaching was the most common one and even when teaching, women were making less money than their male counterparts.
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He has denied her the facilities for obtaining a thorough education—all colleges being closed against her. |
Lastly women want to be educated. Elizabeth Cady Stanton herself applied to Union College but was rejected because of her sex. Women believed they deserved the right to an equal education in order to be independent from men.
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Effects of the declaration
The Declaration of Sentiments was a turning point for women, it showed them how they were being treated and opened up their eyes to gaining equality. The Declaration was not widely accepted at first and some saw it as women who were stepping out of the place intended for them. Politically, The Declaration of Sentiments was criticized by many saying that politics were not a place for women. However Frederick Douglas a former slave, who also attended the convention, praised the Declaration in his abolitionist newspaper called The North Star. Douglas' opinion however was uncommon other newspapers mocked the idea of women being equal to men. The New York Herald joked about the idea of a woman running for president. Some of the signers withdrew their names from the document because of the ridicule. The Declaration however proves to show insight to the time period and what the lives of women were like then. The Declaration affected society in a political and social way. Socially, The Declaration of Sentiments was the first document to explicitly state wrongs against women and opened up the eyes of other women about their unfair treatment. As a result of the Declaration, multiple organizations supporting women's rights were founded and worked hard for the cause.
For information on the Seneca Falls Convention click here