It would be ridiculous to talk of male and female atmospheres, male and female springs or rains, male and female sunshine . . . . how much more ridiculous is it in relation to mind, to soul, to thought, where there is as undeniably no such thing as sex, to talk of male and female education and of male and female schools. -Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton
The Women's rights movement focused primarily around political, social and economic status of women and the discrimination on the basis of sex [1]. Women's rights activists have worked towards this for more than two centuries.
The first position women took on Women's rights in the United States occurred in 1848 under the direction of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and three other women at the Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, New York [1]. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the most influential women during this time as she was an advocate and activist for women's rights.
The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 produced the demand for Women's suffrage in the United States and after the American Civil War campaigning for the cause become more prominent
Shortly thereafter, in 1850, the National Women's Rights Convention was held, combining both male and female leadership. The convention raised awareness on such issues as equal wages, expanded education and career opportunities, women's property rights, marriage reform and temperance [1]. Perhaps the most important topic discussed during the conventions was the passage of laws that would give women suffrage. Eventually the National Women's rights Convention would become an annual series of meetings. Both Groups, the Women's rights Convention at Seneca Falls and the National Women's rights Convention came together and created the Women's National Loyal League under the leadership of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
The organization was created to support and petition for the Thirteenth Amendment outlawing slavery. They even went on to campaign for Black and women's full citizenship, including the right to vote (in the 14th and 15th amendment), but were dissapointed when women were not included [1].
In 1853 Anthony began to campaign for women's property rights; speaking at meetings, collection signatures for petitions, and lobbying the state legislature [2].
In 1856, Anthony and Stanton became an agent for American Anti-Slavery Society where they arranged meetings, made speeches, put up posters and distributed leaflets [2]. Anthony continued to campaign for equal rights for all American citizens throughout her life. It is hard to believe that Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton never gave up on what they believed in. It makes me pround to be a women living in the 21st century. I think it is important to reflect upon the strong and couragous women that fought for our rights so many years ago.
In 1866, Anthony and Stanton founded the American Equal Rights Association and in 1868 they started publishing a newspaper, The Revolution [2] which allowed them to have a voice. This for me, was a very important and proud milestone.
In 1969 the suffrage movement split, but Anthony and Stanton's National Association continued to campaign for a constitutional amendment [2]. It was their relentless campaigning for women's suffrage that led to the arrest of Anthony and her three sisters.
That didn't stop her from continuing to be an advocate for women's suffrage and a women's rights activist. Susan B. Anthony continued to do great things to empower women and the rights of women leading up until she died.
Susan B. Anthony was a temperance activist who dedicated her life to women's suffrage. Ignoring opposition and abuse, Susan B. Anthony traveled across the nation in hopes of gaining the people's votes [2]. Like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony was also extremely influential. She was an abolitionist worker, educational reformer, labor activist, temperance worker, suffragist and women's rights worker [2].
The perseverance, dedication and hard work of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony gave women a voice and allowed their concerns to be heard. All american women finally got the vote with the Ninteenth Amendment, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment in 1920.* They have been extremely important women in history and this was a topic that was important to me. While I think we still face discrimination in the economically and politically, it is definitely more socially accepted and often times admired. Many women in recent years have taken a stance in the political, economical and social environment.
*While I know this did not occur until after the time period we have discussed, it was all of her efforts prior to 1877 that made Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony such inspirational leaders during the women's rights movement.
REFERENCES:
[1] Women's Suffrage. Web. 2005. http://teachingamericanhistorymd.net/000001/000000/000143/html/t143.html
[2] Susan B. Anthony House. Web. 2009
http://susanbanthonyhouse.org/her-story/biography.php
[3] Foner, Eric. "Chapter 14: The Civil War." Give Me Liberty!: an American History. 2nd ed.
Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2009. Print. Seagull Edition.
