How Did Elizabeth Cady Stanton Influence The Women's Rights Movement

Tess Davis Mr. Hureau AP US History 15 October 2024 Born in New York in 1815, Elizabeth Cady Stanton lived during multiple social reform movements, including the abolitionist, temperance, education, and prison reform movements. From childhood, Stanton was aware of and formed strong opinions on unjust legislation due to her father’s role as a lawyer and Justice on the New York Supreme Court. In adulthood, Stanton became a member of the abolitionist movement and married Henry Stanton, an abolitionist lecturer, in 1840. While attending the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, Stanton met American abolitionist Lucretia Mott. Together with Mott and others, she later organized the first national women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, NY.
On July 19th, 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, alongside Lucretia Mott, commenced the convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Stanton presented the opening address with a “rousing speech” (Gale), outlining the goals of the convention and declaring that women’s and men’s rights should be the same. During the two-day convention, Stanton authored the Declaration of Sentiments, modeled after the Declaration of Independence, and added the word woman throughout the document. The convention’s declaration listed 18 grievances of women that included unjust economic, religious, educational, societal, and political factors. Additionally, the declaration listed eleven demands for change. Some members of the convention were hesitant to add the right to vote to the final draft, as it was not discussed or supported by many people. However, women’s right to vote was included, the bold and controversial decision would openly establish the core goal of the Women’s Suffrage movement, motivating women’s rights activists to take action and eventually leading to the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted voting rights to