Elizabeth Cady Stanton Thesis

Marianne Hoang

Mr. Kamison

English Honors 1

May 8, 2023

Research Essay on Elizabeth Cady Stanton

In American history, there are moments when noteworthy people have faults. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the leading figures in the women’s suffrage movement is no stranger to this. It was her life’s work, she dedicated 50 years to it so that women could have the same political power as men. She was a seemingly outstanding person but had several controversial beliefs. While she did help pass the 19th amendment which allowed women to vote, Stanton was more focused on white women being able to vote before black women were. It is undeniable that she aided in giving women more power, however, her views on race complicate her legacy.

Stanton was born

It will start women thinking, and men too; and when men and women think about a new question, the first step in progress is taken" (“SENECA FALLS”). Both documents share a distinct similarity; they did not include black people. In 1851, Stanton met Susan B. Anthony and the two quickly got along. They complemented each other as a pair, with Stanton being the writer and better public speaker and Anthony the tactician. When the Civil War started in 1861, Stanton and Anthony were quick to support abolitionists and the 13th Amendment which would abolish slavery. However, they opposed the 14th and 15th Amendments, which would give black men the right to vote and citizenship on the basis that it did not include women. As soon as Anthony and Stanton saw the word “male” in the 14th Amendment they quickly set out petitions to stop the States from depriving citizens of rights on the grounds of sex (Stanton). This caused tensions between other women who supported the 15th Amendment, creating a split in the movement and the formation of two groups. Stanton and Anthony formed the National Woman Suffrage Movement (NWSA), where Stanton was the president and wrote for the group’s

When explaining why she disagreed with the 15th Amendment Stanton said, “We educated, virtuous white women are more worthy of the vote.” (Ginzberg). After expressing her discontent when the amendment did not include women she would further go on to draw a picture depicting a black rapist and alerted other white women that they would be degraded if black men were to vote before they could. Stanton also has more thoughts concerning black suffrage, “It becomes a serious question whether we had better stand aside and let 'Sambo' walk into the kingdom first.” (Laurent). Here “Sambo” was used to describe a black man and the kingdom symbolized suffrage. She did all of this knowing that Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist, spoke up during the Seneca Falls convention to convince others to sign the document because the idea of women voting was strange at first (Staples). Stanton claims that she fought for women’s rights but historian Lori Ginzberg disagrees, “But when she said ‘women,’ I think ... that she primarily had in mind women much like herself: white, middle-class, culturally if not religiously protestant, propertied, well-educated.” Stanton’s environment influenced what she thought of black people. The majority of suffragists were engaged in only white women getting the right to vote. Stanton even supported abolitionists but still made