Artifact #2-

Document Interpretation 5:

Declaration of Sentiments

In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote a response towards the societal criticism towards

the current treatment of women. As the United State began to resemble more like a modern,

developed nation, the change of societal values began to catch up with the development. In this

era, land-owning white men were still viewed as the ideal class with other groups behind them to

be considered ‘oppressed’. During this time, women of the nation began to raise their voice

against their given position within the modern world; women want to stand for their known civil

liberties that were being denied by “the most ignorant and degrading men.” (Stanton 1848). So

Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote the Declaration of Sentiments which called for a halt for the

injustice towards women equality, stating that women are “right-bearing individuals.” (Stanton,

1848).

Coincidentally, I noticed that both the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration

of Sentiments shared similar values. Perhaps that was intentional in order to symbolize that

woman during this current time knew what their right was since the United States declared

independence. Stanton indicates this by modifying the words of the Declaration of

Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and WOMEN are created

equal” (Stanton, 1848). Women of this time wanted to live their lives as equally social members

of the United States, who’s basic rights are also defined in the Constitution, and compared the

Brittish rule of the colonists to their current treatment within the States. Later, members of this

rising movement were ready to demonstrate their protest in order to see the change they wanted.
 Staton approached the men of her time with a solution to this unjust inequality of women,

at the Seneca Falls Conference. Staton called for an “immediate admission to all the rights and

privileges which belong to them as citizens of the United States” (Stanton 1848). It was an

immediate call to be given the natural rights they deserve and no longer treated as a lower class

of their own.

Men, who held the higher power or were somewhat of an authority would be the only

main ones opposed to this movement. The notion of women becoming equally involved in

political and economic affairs as men do was intimidating, for men believe no one had the right

sense on how to make such ‘major’ decisions. Men wished for women to follow the traditional

given route which meant staying out of the way and staying in the house. If women began to

bring their voice into the political system then the entire system is subject to change with much

different political views that would challenge those given by men. This is a change that was

obviously inevitable, yet it is still difficult for women to have a larger voice in politics. But since

the movement began, the chances of our first woman president become closer with each passing

election, just like our last election and soon to be this year's election.

Sources:

https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/senecafalls.asp