Elizabeth Cady Argumentative Essay

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a very confident, determined, and fearless woman. While many people opposed equal rights for women and abolishing slavery, she supported these things.(11) Her being a woman who was also an abolitionist and women’s rights activist in the 19th century was a dangerous and frustrating task. However, she continued to try and make a difference in society by fighting for these changes.

Clearly, Elizabeth Stanton had to be confident to speak to crowds and to publish books with very bold ideas that supported women. During the 1870s, she traveled around the United States speaking to large crowds. The lecture she often delivered was her “Our Girls” speech, which was about how important education for young girls is and how girls were hardly treated as equals in society. Confidence was also displayed by her when she
spoke in front of three hundred people and read the Declaration of Sentiments at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. Angered by the Bible’s statements about women serving men, she wrote “The Woman’s Bible”.(7) This book challenged the biblical scripture from a woman’s standpoint. Stanton had to be very confident about her viewpoints to be daring enough to publish this story, considering the large amount of Christians who could be very mad because she was fundamentally questioning their beliefs.

In addition, Elizabeth needed to be very determined to continue to stand up for these causes for, almost, her entire life. Firstly, in 1840, she went to the Anti-Slavery Convention in London, and continued to fight for the abolishment of slavery for nearly thirty more years because she was determined to put an end to it. In addition, Stanton hosted and attended many women’s rights events, including the Seneca Falls Convention, for decades trying to provoke change. The last part of her life that proved her determination was when after her brother died. Her father continued to tell her that he wished she was a boy, to fill the shoes of her brother. After being told this many times she continued to try to be like him to please her father.

Lastly, she was a fearless person who was not afraid to stand up for what she believed in.
One event that proved this trait was her not including the “obey” portion of her marriage oath. This was very rebellious for the time and most likely caused people to be mad because of how sacred marriage oaths are. Stanton also spoke to Harriet Powell, a traveler on the Underground Railroad, one night. The danger of this was very evident, but she did not care because she wanted to assist slaves in any way she could.(2) Her book, “The Woman’s Bible”, also showed she had no fear. This controversial text could easily have caused many religious people to be angered by her. In conclusion, Elizabeth Cady Stanton had to have a lot of confidence and determination to fight for these movements. Many people supporting these causes had to try again and again to get their voices heard, and that is exactly what she did. She also had to be fearless to do what she did. Being an abolitionist and woman’s rights activist was very dangerous. But she knew the only way to change the way things were for the better was to try to change it
herself.(13)