Week 9 Elizabeth Cady Stanton Frederick Douglas

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course. 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; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it, and to insist upon the institution of a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. I choose a part of the Declaration of Sentiments which Elizabeth Cady Stanton presented at the Women’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. This was the first convention in support of women’s rights. It was attended by over 300 people. The Declaration was signed by 64 women and 32 men. Frederick Douglas signed as the only black man. She cleverly used the Declaration of Independence which she amended to read that all men and women were created equal. Women were not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence. I choose this passage because it is almost impossible to believe that women were not considered equal to men. These brave forward thinking women fought for the abolition of slavery as well as the rights of women. Women had no rights to vote or own property. They were treated as second class citizens under the law and subject to their fathers or husbands. Women did not get the right to vote until 1920.