Notes on Elizabeth Cady Stanton's Declaration of Sentiments (1848)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Declaration of Sentiments (1848)

Context and Overview

  • Authors: Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902) and Lucretia Mott were instrumental in drafting the Declaration of Sentiments presented at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848.

  • Purpose: The document served to parallel the Declaration of Independence, articulating the grievances of women and making a controversial request for women's rights.

Key Excerpt from the Declaration

  • Begins with a call for understanding when a group must assert a different position within society:

    • "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…"

Fundamental Beliefs

  • Assertion of self-evident truths:

    • "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal…"

    • Focus on inalienable rights endowed by the Creator: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

  • Governments are instituted to secure these rights, deriving powers from the consent of the governed.

Critique of Government and Justification for Change

  • Importance of prudence in changing established governments:

    • Changes should not be made for light or transient causes.

    • History shows humanity tends to suffer injustices than to challenge the status quo.

  • Women’s suffering leads to the demand for equal rights:

    • "…Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled."

Historical Context of Women's Oppression

  • Statement on the historical oppression of women:

    • "The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman…"

  • Specific Grievances Against Men and Society:

    1. Denial of the right to vote (elective franchise).

    2. Compulsion to obey laws without representation.

    3. Deprivation of rights afforded to less knowledgeable men.

    4. Legal status of married women as civilly dead.

    5. Loss of economic rights, including wages.

    6. Moral irresponsibility in the presence of a husband.

    7. Marriage laws designed to favor men, detracting from women's rights.

    8. Taxation of women who own property without political recognition.

    9. Limited access to profitable employment and educational institutions.

    10. Restricted roles in religious spheres based on claims of Apostolic authority.

    11. Creation of societal double standards for moral behavior between men and women.

    12. Undermining of women's self-confidence and capabilities.

Call for Rights and Actions

  • Declaration of immediate demands:

    • Acknowledgment of the disfranchisement of women and their call for equal rights under the law.

  • Commitment to action:

    • Anticipation of misunderstanding, ridicule, and opposition.

    • Plans to employ various strategies to achieve equality:

    • Employ agents.

    • Circulate pamphlets.

    • Petition local and national legislatures.

    • Seek support from religious and media platforms.

    • Hope for continued conventions across the country.

  1. The voices represented in the document excerpts you read this week are primarily those of women, specifically articulated by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, who drafted the Declaration of Sentiments. This document, presented at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, served to voice the grievances and demand equal rights for women within American society.

  2. These political voices used direct references to the laws and history of the United States to make their case primarily by paralleling the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Sentiments begins similarly to the foundational American document: "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…" It further asserts core principles, stating, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal…" This directly echoes and expands upon the original Declaration of Independence's assertion of equality. By adopting the structure and language of such a pivotal historical document, Stanton and Mott drew upon established American political thought to legitimize their claims for women's rights. Furthermore, by listing specific grievances, such as the "denial of the right to vote (elective franchise)," "compulsion to obey laws without representation," and the "legal status of married women as civilly dead," they inherently referenced the existing legal frameworks and societal norms that perpetuated women's subordination, using these as evidence for the necessity of change.

  3. When comparing the appeal and arguments made by women in the Declaration of Sentiments to what they achieved in terms of political and civic rights during the 1820s-1840s, it becomes evident that American democracy in this period was far from fully realized or inclusive. The document itself, being a bold call for radical change, anticipates "misunderstanding, ridicule, and opposition," which indicates that the demands for equal rights were not immediately met. The extensive list of grievances—such as the systematic denial of voting rights, economic independence, equal educational opportunities, and legal standing for married women—demonstrates that a significant portion of the population was systematically disenfranchised. Therefore, the appeals made reflect a profound disparity between the foundational ideals of equality and liberty, as enshrined in documents like the Declaration of Independence, and the practical realities experienced by women. The state of American democracy during this era, despite a broader movement for expanded rights, clearly excluded women from its full promise, necessitating profound societal and legal reforms that would take many more decades to achieve.