Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a headstrong woman, who was determined to give women the rights they deserved. Her devoted mindset lead her to start the American Women’s Right Movement, as well as she began a solution for women suffrage (“Declaration”). So, she started the Declaration of Sentiments. The Declaration of Sentiments was written primarily by Stanton herself, but she had based it upon the Declaration of Independence (“Declaration”).
Throughout this document, Stanton addresses that women do not have the rights that men have, and that the Government is based upon a patriarchal society, which prevents women from having the rights they deserve. The Declaration of Sentiments starts by assuring women would have the same rights that men possess, such as unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (“Declaration”). Inside the document, Stanton uses facts such as participation, representation in the government, women’s lack of property rights in marriage, and inequality in education and employment opportunities (“Declaration”).
The Declaration of Sentiments was read by Stanton herself on July 20, at the Seneca Falls Convention. After the Declaration was read, it was followed up by 12 resolutions relating to women’s rights (“Declaration”). Throughout the Declaration of Sentiments, Elizabeth Stanton explains the importance of women’s rights by using pathos, anaphora, and a very strong emotional diction. Historical Background Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born on November 12 in 1815. She received a extensive education at the Johnstown Academy, where she successfully graduated from in 1832 (“Declaration”).
Her father, Daniel Cady, was a U. S. Congressman but later transgressed to a New York Supreme Court Judge. During work days, Elizabeth would go with her father to work, while she was there she learned about the laws about discrimination. Elizabeth was determined to give women the same rights as men and eliminate discrimination for women. In 1840, Elizabeth married Henry Brewster, a lawyer and abolitionist (“Declaration”). Later on in the same year, both Elizabeth and Henry attended the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention in London. “Declaration”).
After seeing this convention, Elizabeth was infuriated. She became an advent speaker for women’s rights, and started a plethora of petitions to change the New York Legislature to grant married women their property rights. In 1848, Elizabeth started the Declaration of Sentiments, a very powerful and debateable document. She introduced the Declaration of Sentiments in 1848, which was signed by sixtyeight women and thirty-two men, including Frederick Douglass (“Declaration”).
This document has opened up a questionable debate over whether women should have equal rights as men, or whether things should remain the same. Analysis of the Document Throughout this document, Elizabeth uses pathos to grab the attention of all women, and other readers. She does this by starting off each paragraph, after the introduction, with “he has. ” From “he has denied her”, “he has endeavoured”, to “he allows”, it gives a negative tone to the document itself. Using these words creates a sense of anger-a burning feeling on the inside. Women should not go by what “he” says.
Towards the end of the document, Stanton clearly uses pathos by even stating “-in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights.. ” which expresses the feelings of most women according to Stanton (“Declaration of Sentiments, reading”). Stanton also used anaphora in her Declaration of Sentiments to address her point. As stated in the previous paragraph, Stanton repeated the word “he” multiple times. By doing this, she created the idea that men are overpowering women.
She clearly states in the document that” He has endeavoured in every way, that could destroy her confidence in her own powers.. ” (“Declaration of Sentiments, reading”). Which leads us to think that men had take over us in many ways that us women didn’t even know about. The use of anaphora in this document gives her leverage to address this situation with even more ferocity. Instead of calling them “men” and addressing them as a whole, she chooses to call each and every man out by saying “he” which is intelligent. She grabs the attention of every women and calls out their significant other.
Stanton also attacks this situation with strong diction. Throughout the document, you can pick up her passion for this topic, and her determination to make women’s rights a realistic idea. If Stanton wouldn’t have had such determination, women’s rights would have dissipated into just another forgotten idea. Her diction not only grasps the reader’s attention firmly, but displays her characteristics-a strong-willed, intelligent, and determined woman. (“The Women’s Rights Movement: Moving toward Equality”). If Stanton would have lacked this strong, passionate diction, this document might have never came through like it did.
Taking in consideration for her passion on women’s rights, Stanton elaborated on the effects of men in such a diligent way that almost every women could relate to it. Her tone throughout this document was firm, aggressive, but passionate. She used the appropriate terminology, influential examples, and addressed her point very clearly. This speech was essentially motivational, and helped women realized it was their time to take a stand, and gain their rights that they deserved (“The Women’s Rights Movement”). The Declaration of Sentiments had a very effective result.
Stanton won her argument, as well as she was able to grant women their rights that they deserved (“Elizabeth Cady Stanton”). Stanton is a very honorable person. To this day, she is a role model to many women to fight for their rights and what they believe in. Her document was a milestone in history and is a document that every young woman, and older woman should cherish and appreciate. Without this document, women would be nothing (“Mountjoy, Shane”). Results of Document Due to this document, women were granted their rights and prevented any laws from discriminating against women (” Declaration of Sentiments, web”).
It also prohibits any laws from discriminating against women in the future. One document that is most compared to the Declaration of Sentiments is the Declaration of Independence (“Thompson, Hannah”). Throughout the writing process for the Declaration of Sentiments, Stanton based it off of the Declaration of Independence, and used some of the same ideas and philosophies (“Declaration”). For example, the Declaration of Independence concentrated on freedom. The Declaration of Sentiments also focused on freedom, just in a different form. “Thompson, Hannah”).
Other examples are the same word use and sentence structure such as “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equally.. ” while Stanton rephrased it to say”.. all men and women are created equally. ” (“Thompson, Hannah”). There is an adequate amount of resemblance between these two historical documents. The Declaration of Sentiments fulfilled its purpose to every extent. It expressed the thoughts and feelings of many women, and gave them a voice that could be heard.
If this document would have never been created, women’s rights would still cease to exist (“Declaration”). Stanton had a very positive response from women all around the world. Men didn’t necessarily approve of it at first, but they gradually accepted the idea of women having their rights. One infamous man, Frederick Douglass, had the audacity to sign and support this document (“Declaration”). With the help of Frederick Douglass’ signature, it helped gain many more signatures from men. (“Declaration”). Conclusion Elizabeth Cady Stanton left a positive legacy on women in her time, and even today.
She was the voice that spoke out when others couldn’t speak, the light to a dark path, and the overdue answer to an ongoing situation. She changed the future for women, and gave women a sense of motivation to be equivalent to men (” Elizabeth Cady Stanton”). Not only did Stanton herself leave a wonderful legacy, but the document itself did. Since it was a close replica of the Declaration of Independence, people now have two documents to read to help understand freedom and rights that every human should posses (“Declaration of Sentiments, web”).
We can learn plenty of things from this document. We can learn that every human is equivalent to the next, and that women can be adequate enough to do the same things men do. Women should not be singled out because women are “fragile”. Women should also not be discriminated upon. How would men feel if they were discriminated upon? What if every man’s rights got taken away? In a biased or unbiased atmosphere, women’s rights are important, and they’re just as important as a man’s.
