Declaration of Sentiments Essay

The declarations of sentiments was arguably the most significant document in recital for the advancement of women in the nineteenth century America. It was made famous at the first Womans Rights Convention, held in Seneca falls, impertinent York, in July of 1848. Drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the declaration out(a)lined a series of grievances resulting from the unfair treatment of women and proposed eleven resolutions arguing that women had the properly to comparison in all aspects of their lives, including the right to vote. Despite the declarations significance, however, it would be seventy-two ears later that women finally won the right to vote.In early societies, women bore children, cared for the home, and helped maintain the family. Males dominated in early gild from the time of the earliest written historical records. It was believed that women were naturally weaker and inferior to men. Therefore, in most traditional societies, women chiefly were at a disadvant age. Women were not allowed to vote, work, get an education, or be involved in the church. Married women were lawfully dead in the eyes of the law and had no property rights. Women had to submit to laws when they had no voice in their formation.In early society, women were robbed of their self-confidence and self respect. The events leading up to the 1848 convention date back to 1840, when Stanton be the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London and was denied a seat at the convention because she was a woman. She then(prenominal) attended a small social gathering near her home in Seneca Falls, where she laid out her list of grievances about the treatment of women in society. From this small gathering the convention was then planned and the resolve of Sentiments was formed. The Declaration proposed reforms in all areas of womens lives.Included in the declaration was a list of cardinal injustices endured by women, ranging from the lack of equal educational opportunities and the den ial of the right to vote, to the exclusion of public participation in the affairs of the church. It also protested unequal employment opportunities. Stanton read the declaration paragraph by paragraph, and over the two-days of discussion, the Declaration of Sentiments and 12 resolutions received agreement endorsement, one by one, with a few amendments. The only resolution that did not pass unanimously was the call for womens authorization.The Seneca Falls convention generated widespread ridicule and even hostility, principally from religious leaders and the press. An article in the Philadelphia Public Ledger and Daily Transcript (September 1848) opined that, unlike the Seneca Falls women, the women of Philadelphia were celebrated for discretion, modesty, and unfeigned diffidence rather than standing out for womans rights. After all, the author reasoned, A woman is nobody. A wife is everything. A pretty girl is equal to ten guanine men, and a mother is, next to God, all powerfulT he ladies of Philadelphia, therefore.. re resolved to maintain their rights as wives, belles, virgins, and mothers, and not as women (Stanton, Anthony, and Gage, p. 804). Womens rights conventions were held on a regular basis until the start of the Civil War. Elizabeth Cady Stanton travelled the country lecturing and organizing for the next forty years. Winning the right to vote was the key issue, since the vote would provide the means to accomplish the other reforms. The campaign for womans right to vote ran across unremitting opposition and took 72 years for the women to win.During the Womens Rights Movement, women faced incredible obstacles to win the American civil right to vote, which was later won in 1920. At a time when traditional roles were still very much(prenominal) in place, the declaration caused much controversy. Many people respected the courage and abilities behind the drafting of the document, only were unwilling to abandon conventional mindset. An article in the Onida Whig published soon after the convention describe the document as the most shocking and unnatural event ever recorded in history of womanity.Although it would be many years before women finally won the vote, the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention had set the wheels in motion. Without question, it was Stantons Declaration of Sentiments that first politicized the issues that would take center stage in the struggle to attain equality for women. In todays society, women now are more respected and are accepted to do many jobs. Women of those years effected the women of today by giving them hope and acceptance of their right to define how they would like to live.