Comparing The Declaration Of Sentiments And The Preamble And Protest

The 19th century was a time of strong attitudes and even stronger disagreements. While many individuals passionately agreed upon the advancement of the women’s suffrage movement, or a woman’s right to vote, many citizens, including women, had counterarguments for the establishment and development of women’s rights. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was a strong advocate for this movement, wrote The Declaration of Sentiments, which powerfully acknowledged the oppression women faced during this time. On the other hand, the Committee of Brooklyn Women gathered to create an alternative opinion on the matter, which was presented in a protest, entitled Preamble and Protest. The two opposing opinions, both made by female figures in the late 1800s, exposes

In the Declaration of Sentiments, Stanton discusses her grievances about the oppression of women by stating all of the impositions men have enacted upon women like her. On the other hand, in the Preamble and Protest, the authors created a list of why they feel that it is in their best interest to continue to lack the particular rights in effort to discourage the advancement of the women’s suffrage movement. Throughout both documents, each author makes counteracting points about why they believe women should, or should not, have the right to vote. For example, the two have alternative stances on what is entailed in a woman’s duty. In the Declaration of Sentiments, Stanton raises the point that it is a woman’s obligation “to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security” (1). Her point expresses that a woman whom is feeling discriminated against has a duty to stand up to make a change in the current government. However, the Committee of Brooklyn Women exclaims that a woman has other, more traditional, householder duties, in which they should “devote their energies to the more efficient performance of their present work than to divert them to new fields of activity,” that being involvement in the election process (1). This anti-suffragist attitude highlights how they firmly believe and accept the need to stick to tradition

In the Declaration of Sentiments, Stanton addresses that men “withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men” (2). Her statement expresses that even the least intelligent men are still given the right to vote and ability to be involved in governmental processes, and yet women are unable, regardless of their intelligence. On the other hand, the Preamble and Protest points out that it is more important for Americans to focus on the “quality” of the vote, as opposed to increasing “quantity”, that being giving women voting rights (Committee of Brooklyn Women 1). Their argument adopts the idea that it is not necessary to have more people vote, but to make those who are voting more superior. However, this statement is feuded by Stanton’s idea of needing a voice because she believes women are not represented, making her dissatisfied with governmental actions. The main contrast here, therefore, is how one can determine the quality of a law, especially when women are discontent in their lack of voice in the way government is run. Stanton is arguing that if women could contribute to civil duties, the quality of these laws could actually be improved or simply changed. Generally, their alternative perspectives on the issue led to an extensive road of conflict and confusion concerning women’s