At the Women’s Suffrage Convention in Washington D.C., Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the most influential women’s activists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, delivers a completely stunning and powerful clamor for change. During the late nineteenth century, all men gain complete egalitarianism, and the government grants equal opportunity for the males only. In her speech, “The Destructive Male,” Stanton details the long list of women’s forgotten rights. In Washington D.C., Elizabeth Cady Stanton forces the entire world to listen and respond as she delivers the cries of oppressed women, proving the reality of their injustice and the need for demolition of the rigged patriarchy. She uses strong, persuasive figurative language
The idea of all men are created equal is specious because there were Slavery, and women did not have equal rights as men. Sources A, B, C, D, show how the statement “all men are created equal” is hypocritical. The Declaration of Independence, from Source A, provides the reader that the Declaration of Natural Rights is false. In Source B, the letter from Abigail Adams shows how men had “unlimited power,” and women did not have the ability to vote, own property, or speak out in Congress. In Source C, it conveys how Slavery provoked unfair rights, embittered lives, and the loss of natural rights.
Elizabeth Stanton was a female abolitionist in the mid-1800s America, who created the speech ‘Declaration of Sentiments’ that argues for the rights of women. The speech was ineffective despite the use of allusions because it didn't have much of an effect till decades after. Stanton uses an allusion for the entirety of her speech, since most people would have known of the declaration of independence at this time, people would be able to understand the significance of this speech by it alluding to such an important piece of US history. She uses “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal” and inputs women alongside men, having it read as “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all man and women are created
Stanton’s “Declaration of Sentiments” was the first convention for women rights. Its purpose was to address the status of American women. Stanton felt that women were feeling they were getting shorted and disrespected of their rights. It was a list of resolutions to the problems dealing with their rights. She also included needs for women’s right to education, property, and vote.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born in November 1815 to Margaret Livingston and Daniel Cady in Johnstown, New York. She was educated at Johnstown Academy and Emma Willard's Troy Seminary and her father tutored her in law. Having lost her brother Eleazar in 1826, Elizabeth sought success to console her father. After her graduation from the seminary in 1833, she developed an interest in reform politics through staying at her cousin, Gerrit Smith's home one summer. She soon met her husband Henry Stanton and their honeymoon was spent at an 1840 international anti-slavery convention in London.
However, when thought of, most people remember her contributions to the women’s rights movement. She, and other feminists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, began to realize that there were numerous similarities between slaves and women. Both were fighting to get away from the male-dominated culture and beliefs. In 1848, these women began a convention in Seneca Falls, regarding women’s rights(Brinkley 330). They believed that women should be able to vote, basing their argument on the clause “all men and women are created equal”.
At the Seneca Falls Convention in July 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton drafted a document, titled the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, that addressed the several issues that women faced in American society. Decades prior to the convention, founding fathers gathered together and wrote the Declaration of Independence, which became an example for the Declaration of Sentiments. Stanton modified a few words and phrases from the Declaration of Independence’s Preamble and Declaration of Natural Rights so that it would match her causes. However, her adaptation of the List of Grievances and the Resolution differed greatly from the original. I believe that Stanton’s motive for mimicking the Declaration of Independence was to take John Locke’s
Equal Rights “Men and Women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its Jurisdiction”-Alice Paul. In the 1900s, African Men and Americans did not have the same rights. Women were not able to make their own decisions and many men, women and children were slaves. In Elizabeth Stanton’s “Declaration of Sentiments” and Frederick Douglass’ speech “What to a Slave is the Fourth of July” uses strong rhetorical appeals in their writing, which contributes to the effectiveness of their argument to demonstrates that women and men should be treated the same and have equal rights.
In 1868, Elizabeth Cady Stanton delivered the "The Destructive Male" during the Women's Suffrage Convention in Washington D.C. The speech was given in the height of the Women's' Suffrage movement, which gathered an abundance amount of women. These gatherings were mostly attended by women that fought for their rights and a small percentage of the participants were men that as well supported the end to women's suffrage in America. The author's purpose for this speech was on how men in society were the leading cause of violence and disorganization. If men and women were to share power ,then the world will work in harmony and be safer.
And ain't I a woman?” The Declaration states that all men and women are created equal but this quote shows in the speech there are examples of how women have little rights about what happens in their own life and how someone else chooses it
The first Paragraph is the most important, as it sets the tone for the rest of the speech; however, the tone shifts from the harsh and abrasive harping on men, to how society can move forward and bring about balance if women have more of a say in how things are run. Towards the end of the speech Stanton’s tone remarkably differs from the initial tearing down of men, to the pleading for equality, “There is a striking analogy between matter and mind, and the present disorganization of society warns us that in the dethronement of women we have let loose the elements of violence and ruin that she only has the power to curb.”. Here Stanton rests the current chaos of society on both genders shoulders when she says “we” rather than addressing just men. She concludes her speech eloquently and with professional composure, pleading with the government to aid the repair of society with women by man’s
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an equal rights activist and suffragist. Before her work as a feminist, Elizabeth was an active abolitionist with with her husband and cousin. Unlike a lot of of women’s rights activists, she focuses on much more than suffrage and voting rights. She fought many battles still fought today. Elizabeth gave a speech titled “The Destructive Male” at a women’s rights convention in Washington D.C. in 1868.
In today’s world, it seems to be that women have the same rights as men, but it wasn't always this way. The speech “Women’s Rights to Suffrage” by Susan B Anthony is the most compelling of all. Susan B Anthony persuades the audience that all women should have the same rights as men. It’s shown through the speech that the federal constitution says “we the people”, the government has no right to take away rights from just one gender, and that women are considered people as well. The fact that the constitution says “we the people” is a primary point in this speech.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…” (Hymowitz) How many times has the average American heard these words, spoken with beaming pride and earnest patriotism? So often echoed, this opening line of the Declaration of Independence, perhaps the most important historical document to have defined the United States of America, but does the common individual really listen? Perhaps, then a person would notice that there is a slight difference in the quote above, and the actual quote from the famous declaration written by Thomas Jefferson. In fact, there is only a difference of two words in the entire sentence, but those two little words made all the difference to a large group of reformers gathered at the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. Elizabeth Stanton read aloud the Declaration of Sentiments to her fellow feminists, which began exactly as the Declaration of Independence, exactly, that is, apart from two words: ‘and women.’
Stanton states, “When the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man” (Stanton 1). Stanton used this line to start her declaration as Thomas Jefferson used it in the first line of the Declaration of Independence. Using such a well trusted piece of writing that helped shaped the United States increases her credibility which helps her case in her argument. Another point in Stanton’s view, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: in that all men and women are created equal” (Stanton 1). This line starts the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, but Stanton added in “women” instead of just “men”.