Seneca falls- demands for women's suffrage
Artifact Summary
The Seneca Falls convention was held in Seneca Falls, N.Y. at the Wesleyan Chapel. It was the first women's rights convention held in the United States, and over 200 women attended. Organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the women at the convention discussed the "social, civil, and religious condition and rights of women..." The day of the meeting, Stanton read the "Declaration of Sentiments and Grievances," which was modeled on the Declaration of Independence. The declaration stated that, "...all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator and with certain inalienable rights." Apart from this bold statement, women listed the injustices society inflicted upon women and attempted to mobilize women to support the effort. This convention initiated the half-a century long struggle for women's suffrage in the United States. The strenuous efforts of these ladies, along with those of Lucy Stone, Julia Ward Howe, and Susan B. Anthony all culminated in 1920 with the ratification of the 19th amendment, which prohibited anyone to deny the rights of any U.S. citizen to vote on account of sex.
Connection to the Thesis
This artifact represents the progression of the women's rights frontier, and how one major "push forward" was achieved by the ratification of the 19th amendment that granted women suffrage. One of the most critical and prevalent element in the women's frontier is the defiance of the status quo, which was particularly accentuated in both the demand for suffrage and later movements in the 1900s such as the emergence of the flapper (a character prevalent during the "roaring twenties" who defied the traditional ideology of women by wearing seductive clothing, drinking, and smoking). In this situation, women demanded something essentially unheard of by normal, American citizens-- the ability for women to have access to the ballot and voice her opinions during the elections. This major "push forward" of the women's frontier reverberated throughout American history, and carried its social, economic, and political consequences. Due to the gain of suffrage, there was a higher standard for women to achieve. This was portrayed by the increase of women in white-collar jobs, medicine, and law. Economically, the role of women in society greatly increased as well. Due to the expansion of educational opportunities for women, many were able to access professional jobs once unavailable to them. Due to the influx into professional jobs, women saw their salaries increase, however, they were never equal to those of men. Lastly, their political gain (voting) resulted in an array of other jobs, such as property rights.
The Seneca Falls convention was held in Seneca Falls, N.Y. at the Wesleyan Chapel. It was the first women's rights convention held in the United States, and over 200 women attended. Organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the women at the convention discussed the "social, civil, and religious condition and rights of women..." The day of the meeting, Stanton read the "Declaration of Sentiments and Grievances," which was modeled on the Declaration of Independence. The declaration stated that, "...all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator and with certain inalienable rights." Apart from this bold statement, women listed the injustices society inflicted upon women and attempted to mobilize women to support the effort. This convention initiated the half-a century long struggle for women's suffrage in the United States. The strenuous efforts of these ladies, along with those of Lucy Stone, Julia Ward Howe, and Susan B. Anthony all culminated in 1920 with the ratification of the 19th amendment, which prohibited anyone to deny the rights of any U.S. citizen to vote on account of sex.
Connection to the Thesis
This artifact represents the progression of the women's rights frontier, and how one major "push forward" was achieved by the ratification of the 19th amendment that granted women suffrage. One of the most critical and prevalent element in the women's frontier is the defiance of the status quo, which was particularly accentuated in both the demand for suffrage and later movements in the 1900s such as the emergence of the flapper (a character prevalent during the "roaring twenties" who defied the traditional ideology of women by wearing seductive clothing, drinking, and smoking). In this situation, women demanded something essentially unheard of by normal, American citizens-- the ability for women to have access to the ballot and voice her opinions during the elections. This major "push forward" of the women's frontier reverberated throughout American history, and carried its social, economic, and political consequences. Due to the gain of suffrage, there was a higher standard for women to achieve. This was portrayed by the increase of women in white-collar jobs, medicine, and law. Economically, the role of women in society greatly increased as well. Due to the expansion of educational opportunities for women, many were able to access professional jobs once unavailable to them. Due to the influx into professional jobs, women saw their salaries increase, however, they were never equal to those of men. Lastly, their political gain (voting) resulted in an array of other jobs, such as property rights.