Throughout history, it has been made clear that women did not always have the same rights as men. Yet during the 1800s and early 1900s, or around the time of the Civil War, some women began to do something about this. During this time period began the women’s suffrage movement, in which women tried to gain voting rights for women in the United States.
An article from History. com says that, “In 1848, a group of abolitionist activists-mostly women, but some men-gathered in Seneca Falls, New York to discuss the problem of women’s rights. (They were invited there by the reformers Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Most of the delegates agreed: American women were autonomous individuals who deserved their own political identities” One of these women that participated in the women’s suffrage movement includes Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Stanton was born into a wealthy family in New York, Women like her contributed greatly to the women’s rights movement, and many of her actions could be traced to the creation of the Nineteenth Amendment, the amendment that finally gave women the right to vote. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a successful suffragette despite not living to see the creation the Nineteenth Amendment.
She founded the National Women’s Loyal League, helped organized the first women’s rights convention, and was the first woman to address the New York State Legislature. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a successful suffragette during the women’s rights movement, because she founded the National Women’s Loyal League. A passage from The Encyclopedia of Women’s History in America states that, “During the Civil War, Cady Stanton and Anthony founded the National Woman’s Loyal League to collect petitions in favor of the Thirteenth Amendment, outlawing slavery throughout the United States.
After the war, they split with their former abolitionist colleagues, refusing to support the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments because neither one included women’s suffrage. Stanton became the first woman to run for election to Congress in 1866. She founded the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) with Anthony in 1869; she served as its president through most of its existence and for the two years after it merged with the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) in 1890. ”
This quote explains as to why the NWLL was formed: to get people to support the Thirteenth Amendment and end slavery. It concludes that she was dedicated to outlawing slavery and formed the National Women’s Loyal League in an attempt to do so, as well as promote female rights. Therefore, she believed in equality not just for women, but for people of different races. Having such an equality based mindset establishes that Stanton believed in equal rights for everyone.
An article from History. com states about Stanton and Susan B. Anthony that, “After the war, the two created deep conflicts among reformers by attempting to link woman suffrage to black suffrage and, when their efforts failed, by criticizing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments for ignoring woman suffrage. Determined to use the Constitution to enfranchise women, they established in 1869 the National Woman Suffrage Association, forerunner of the organization that eventually secured the Nineteenth Amendment. ” This quote states that Stanton and Anthony attempted to connect woman suffrage to black suffrage, yet it did not work.
Consequently, they created the National Woman Suffrage Association to further support women’s rights. The creation of these two associations (one of which would help create the Nineteenth Amendment) makes Stanton’s determination for women’s rights very evident, which proves that she was a successful suffragette. An additional reason as to why Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a successful suffragette, is because she was involved in the first women’s rights convention. A passage from The Encyclopedia of Women and American Politics states that, “An ad appeared on July 11 in the Seneca County Courier inviting people to “a woman’s rights convention … o discuss the social, civil and religious condition and rights of Woman. ” Stanton and her friends then wrote the Declaration of Sentiments, based on the Declaration of Independence. The result of the successful Seneca Falls Convention was the publication of the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions. ” This passage explains that Stanton wanted to share her opinion on women’s rights, and did so at the convention by co-authoring the Declaration of Sentiments. It also states that Stanton first started advocating for women’s rights at the first women’s rights convention, that she helped organize.
Stanton was a successful suffragette because she was involved in the convention, and because the result of the convention caused the publication of the Declaration of Sentiments. This publication would spread word of women’s rights and the feminist movement. Therefore, if Stanton had not been involved in the convention, it could ultimately prevented the creation of the Nineteenth Amendment.
An article from nps. gov states that, “Stanton got her start in Seneca Falls, New York, where she surprised herself with her own eloquence at a gathering at the Richard P. Hunt home in nearby Waterloo. Invited to put her money where her mouth was, she organized the 1848 First Woman’s Rights Convention with Marth Coffin Wright, Mary Ann M’Clintock, Lucretia Mott and Jane Hunt. She co-authored the Declaration of Sentiments issued by the convention that introduced the demand for votes for women into the debate. ” This quote again states that Elizabeth Cady Stanton attended the first women’s rights convention. She successfully “put her money where her mouth was,” and showed she supported women’s rights by creating the Declaration of Sentiments.
This declaration, as the article states, demanded for women to be able to vote in the debate. Stanton not only promoted the right for women to vote, but took action to do so as well. In other words, it had previously been made clear that Stanton believed in equal rights for women, yet after the convention, it was made clear that she was willing to take action (putting her money where her mouth is). Since it is obvious that just thinking of an idea will not just make it happen immediately, and that one must take action, it can be concluded that Stanton’s willingness to take action proves that she was a successful suffragette.
Lastly, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a successful suffragette, because she was the first woman to address the New York State Legislature. Another quote from The Encyclopedia of Women and American Politics states that, “In 1854, Stanton appeared before the New York State Legislature with a 6,000 signature petition arguing for enhanced property rights and 4,000 signatures for women’s suffrage: “We are persons; native, free born citizens; property holders, taxpayers; yet we are denied the exercise of our right to the elective franchise.
Stanton’s father sharply criticized the address and told her that if she appeared publicly again espousing such ideas, he would disown her. ” This quote tells how Stanton came before the New York State Legislature to state the privileges women were not given, such as owning property. She argued how women are taxpayers and free citizens, yet still do not have the same rights as men. Although this information was well known, Stanton pointed it out to show that it was discriminatory.
This connects to how she was a successful suffragette, because she risked being disowned by her father for addressing the legislature. Stanton put a lot at stake to promote women’s rights, and once again proved her determination by taking action. A passage from Eighty Years and More: Reminiscences, 1815-1897, a book written by Stanton herself, states that, “My father felt equally nervous when he saw, by the Albany Evening Journal, that I was to speak at the Capitol, and asked me to read my speech to him also.
Accordingly, I stopped at Johnstown on my way to Albany, and, late one evening, when he was alone in his office, I entered and took my seat on the opposite side of his table. On no occasion, before or since, was I ever more embarrassed-an audience of one, and that the one of all others whose approbation I most desired, whose disapproval l most feared. I knew he condemned the whole movement, and was deeply grieved at the active part | had taken. Hence I was fully aware that I was about to address a wholly unsympathetic audience. ”
Just as the previous quote describes, this passage shows how Stanton’s father did not support her movement. It also shows that Stanton obtained courage and bravery; after reading her speech to her father and not getting approval, she could have decided to not read it to the legislature, yet she did anyway. Her bravery and dedication to women’s rights to speak to the New York State Legislature shows how she was a successful suffragette, because she did not give up. Although she was not alive for the creation of the Nineteenth Amendment, the bold actions she did surely inspired others to do the same.
Finally, a quote from Stanton’s speech to the New York State Legislature, titled “A Slave’s Appeal,” states, “… Why has she not claimed all those rights, long ago guaranteed by our own declaration to all the citizens of this Republic? Why does she not this day stand in our Senate Chamber and House of Representatives, to look after her own interests? A citizen is defined to be a person, native or naturalized, who has the privilege of exercising the elective franchise, or the qualifications which enable him to vote for rulers, and to purchase and hold real estate.
With this definition, a woman can hardly be called a citizen of this state, and if not, her position is a singularly anomalous one. ” Stanton says in this section of her speech, that even though women are considered citizens of the United States, the fact that they lack many rights (that men have) confirms that they are not truly citizens. Her speech promotes female rights by showing that women deserve equal rights and opportunities in the constitution that men are already given.
This passage demonstrates how Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a successful suffragette due to her addressing the New York State Legislature, because she pointed out the flaws in the constitution regarding women’s rights, and argued for something to change. Once again, she showed that she was a true activist by taking action for what she believed in. In conclusion, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a successful suffragette despite never getting voting rights. She founded the National Women’s Loyal League, was involved in the first women’s rights convention, and was the first woman to address the New York State Legislature.
Founding the National Women’s Loyal League proves that Stanton believed in equality, not just for women, but for people of different races. It also shows that she determined to fight for women’s rights, when she helped create the National Woman Suffrage Association, Stanton being involved in the first women’s rights convention shows as to why she was a successful suffragette, because the convention resulted in the publication of the Declaration of Sentiments, which spread word of women’s rights.
Finally, Stanton being the first woman to address the New York State Legislature showed how she believed women were treated unfairly, since they could not own property or vote like men could, but were still considered citizens and had to pay taxes. It also showed her bravery, because her father threatened to disown her. Due to these reasons, it can honestly be said that Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a successful suffragette, despite never getting voting rights.
