Name: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________
Declaration of Sentiments by Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Woman's Rights Convention, held at Seneca Falls, 19-20 July 1848
In 1840, Elizabeth Cady Stanton traveled to England with her husband. They planned to attend the World’s Anti-
Slavery Convention, however, the convention would not admit women to participate. While at the convention,
Stanton met Lucretia Mott. Angered at their treatment, the two vowed to hold a convention in the US to fight for
women’s rights. In 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention fulfilled this vow when a group of women and men met in
Seneca Falls, New York, to discuss the plight of women in the United States. The members of that convention,
which included active abolitionists, decided to draft a document that addressed women’s grievances. By
making a formal declaration, supporters of women’s rights were making their voices heard in an attempt to
gain equality for women in American society.
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of
man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto
occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to
the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a
course.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of Government becomes destructive
of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it, 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.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light
and transient causes; and accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to
suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are
accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object,
evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their duty to throw off such
government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient
sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains
them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled.
The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man
toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. To prove
this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise.
He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice.
He has withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men—
both natives and foreigners.
Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her
without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides.
He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.
He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns.
He has made her, morally, an irresponsible being, as she can commit many crimes with
impunity, provided they be done in the presence of her husband. 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.
He has so framed the laws of divorce, as to what shall be the proper causes of divorce; in case
of separation, to whom the guardianship of the children shall be given; as to be wholly regardless of
the happiness of women—the law, in all cases, going upon the false supposition of the supremacy of
man, and giving all power into his hands.
After depriving her of all rights as a married woman, if single and the owner of property, he has
taxed her to support a government which recognizes her only when her property can be made
profitable to it.
He has monopolized nearly all the profitable employments, and from those she is permitted to
follow, she receives but a scanty remuneration.
He closes against her all the avenues to wealth and distinction, which he considers most
honorable to himself. As a teacher of theology, medicine, or law, she is not known.
He has denied her the facilities for obtaining a thorough education—all colleges being closed
against her.6
He allows her in Church as well as State, but a subordinate position, claiming Apostolic authority for
her exclusion from the ministry, and, with some exceptions, from any public participation in the
affairs of the Church.
He has created a false public sentiment, by giving to the world a different code of morals for
men and women, by which moral delinquencies which exclude women from society, are not only
tolerated but deemed of little account in man.
He has usurped the prerogative of Jehovah himself, claiming it as his right to assign for her a
sphere of action, when that belongs to her conscience and her God.
He 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.
Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country, their social
and religious degradation,—in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel
themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist
that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens
of these United States.
In entering upon the great work before us, we anticipate no small amount of misconception,
misrepresentation, and ridicule; but we shall use every instrumentality within our power to effect
our object. We shall employ agents, circulate tracts, petition the State and national Legislatures,
and endeavor to enlist the pulpit and the press in our behalf.
We hope this Convention will be followed by a series of Conventions, embracing every part of
the country.
“The Declaration of Sentiments” Rhetorical Analysis & Argument Practice
Purpose: to explore Stanton’s speech in detail, considering how his rhetorical choices contribute to
her purpose, and to practice creating arguments and supporting them with CHORES.
Directions: answer the questions below thoroughly and specifically.
Rhetorical Analysis
1. What is Stanton’s purpose in this text and how do you know?
2. Why does Stanton call her declaration one of “sentiments” and not “independence”?
3. Clearly, Stanton’s declaration is based very closely on Jefferson’s--especially at the beginning. How
is it specifically different from his in the first three paragraphs and what is the effect?
Argument Question
1. We have come a long way as a country since 1848. However, that does not mean everything is
now perfect. Select one of Stanton’s grievances from the text that you either believe has been
resolved or has not yet been resolved. Then, take a position on Stanton’s statement and support with
appropriate evidence (CHORES – current events, history & politics, own experience, readings,
entertainment, sports)
The line you’ve selected:
Your claim on her grievance (your position)
Remember, an argument claim should do three things:
1. Restate the author’s claim (Stanton’s line that you just selected!)
2. State your position on it (fully valid, partially valid, always true, always false, etc.)
3. State your reasons why you believe this position (2-3 reasons)
4. Example claim: Mr. Morang’s claim that cats are better than dog is fully invalid because dogs
are much more friendly than cats and they make better companions.
Possible evidence you could use to support your claim
Brainstorm 3-5 pieces of evidence and list them below.
Remember, evidence must be SPECIFIC! Saying “my life” isn’t evidence, but saying “the time when I
was bit by a cat for trying to pet it” is evidence.
Choose one piece of evidence from above and explain how it supports your claim.
