The 13th of July in 1848, marked the beginning of the Women's Rights Movement. That summer day a group of ladies met to have some tea in upstate New York. Among them stood Elizabeth Cady Stanton a great feminist of her time. And indeed when the conversation leaned towards feminism, Stanton had much to say. Such devout a speech was hers, that all those (women) present were convinced on doing something for the issue. Right then and there, they agreed to convene the world's first Women's Rights Convention. Public announcements spread news that it would take place at the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls the 19th and 20th of July.
At such a convention, Stanton used the Declaration of Independence as the framework for writing what she titled a "Declaration of Sentiments." According to Stanton, "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 inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (seated) with Susan B. Anth...
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Portrait of Elizabeth Cady Stanton with her sons D...Briefly she included that married women were legally dead in they law's eyes, they weren't allowed to vote, they had to submit to laws although they had no voice, no property rights, husbands unjustly had ultimate legal power and responsibility over their wives, women paid taxes with no representation, most occupations were closed to them, they weren't allowed to enter professions, they couldn't get a decent education, they had no right to participate in church affairs, and finally all this summed up made women lack self-confidence and self-respect leading to total dependency on men which was greatly unfair. These resulted in a grand total of 12 resolutions, all approved of except one. According to many, voting in the elections was almost impossible.
Newspapers were greatly scandalized...