The Conditions Of Women During The Mid-1800s

Throughout the lifetime of a human, countless misfortunes may need to be faced and endured. For several people, the severity of pain and adversity they experience could comparably surpass the amount of hardships of others. Such an example of this occurred during the early to mid-1800s in which numerous citizens of the United States pushed for reform of various conditions. One specific group that was a driving force for the reconstruction of society included brave and determined women. At the time, women were not viewed or treated as the equal counterpart to men. Oppressed and discontented by the treatment of men, the women decided that they needed to defend themselves and improve the inequality and wrongdoings in society. The women during this
government, there were several rules in place that made it nearly impossible for women to accomplish great feats in the workforce. Additionally, these restrictions on the women’s life had even caused them dissatisfaction within their domestic homes. An example of these limitations is stated within Source B, “In the covenant of marriage, she is compelled to promise obedience to her husband, he becoming, to all intents and purposes, her master—the law giving him power to deprive her of her liberty, and to administer chastisement”. At this time, everyday living within a home was becoming similar to the living conditions of prison for women. To avoid this situation from escalating, some women attempted to leave and file for a divorce. However, it would result in more grief as it was law of divorce that “…in case of separation, to whom the guardianship of the children shall be given, as to wholly regardless for the happiness of the women—the law, in all cases, going upon a false supposition of the supremacy of man, [gave] all the power [in the husbands] hands” (Source B). Therefore, divorcing the husband would, in most cases, result the women in leaving her children. All of these examples demonstrate how women were viewed as subordinate to man, which caused a great challenge in the women’s
As Source B states, man “…has endeavored, in every way that he could, to destroy her confidence in her own powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life”. Consequently, it was extremely difficult for several women to advocate for themselves and fight for a change. However, most persevered through the adversities and began to propose better treatment for women. For example, in the Declaration of Sentiments, written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, it stated that the U.S. government was based on three rights of the citizens being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in which women were greatly deprived of due to the laws restricting them of these experiences. Therefore, the women maintained the right to “refuse allegiance to [the government], and to insist upon the institution of a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness” (Source B). To rebel and protest the government, one would need to acquire great strength and to have fearlessness. The activists for woman’s rights exhibited these traits and became an example of how to initially deal with the trials of