Until the mid-eighteenth century the role of a woman was to live cast behind the shadows of her husband. Without complaining, she was expected to take care of the children, cook, clean, and adhere to any wishes her husband desired. However, because of the constant reinforcement of this stereotype, many women began to feel constrained, leading them to question what was their role in society. This anger and frustration later became known as the campaign towards the “Early Women’s Rights Movement.”
Towards the end of the 1760’s American colonies adopted the principle of English common law, which stated, “By marriage, the husband and wife are one person in the law. The very being and legal existence are suspended during the marriage, or at least is incorporated into that of her husband under whose wing and protection she performs everything. ” This meant that although men and women were “one” under the law, every action that a woman made had to be in accordance with her spouse, which in turn limited many rights women had like the ability to own property. This underlined the idea that women were not suitable or educated enough to own land. Nonetheless, eight years later in 1777, every state had passed legislation that restricted women from voting. After these laws were passed, more and more women began to feel oppressed by the guidelines that society had created for them. Although, some argue that the fight towards women’s rights began with the commencement of the Seneca Falls Convention it can be noted that the ideas that were expressed began much earlier. In 1803, the Newark Female Charitable Society began by providing systematic aid for the needy. This was an important step ideologically because it empowered women to notice that they had a sense of responsibility towards their community. Before then, women had been taught that their sole purpose was to focus on their household, but with this charitable society taking place women were now volunteering and taking time out of their household obligations to focus on issues around them. After the Newark Female Charitable Society began there was a quiet time in the history of the early women’s rights movement. About thirty years after the society began the Seneca Falls Convention took place. This was known as the stepping-stone for women’s rights because it was the first time a group of women got together to discuss the social, civil, and religious conditions women faced in society. Elizabeth Stanton, a strong supporter of the Convention, drafted the Declaration of Sentiments. In the document it contained what would later be used as the blueprint for the Women’s Right’s Movement. Not only was the document based on the Declaration of Independence, which had been drafted the same month, but it also highlighted the key points that women should be equal in all “spheres.” Shortly after the first Seneca Falls Convention, devoted supporters such as: Elizabeth Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone came together to organize the first National Women’s Convention calling a plan of action to women’s rights. Not knowing how the outcome would be the first day of the convention was held on October 23rd in Worcester, Massachusetts. As the New York Tribune put it, “above 1,000 people were present, and if a larger place could have been had, many more thousands would have attended." The convention was an ultimate success. In response to the convention strong opponents like the New York Herald misemployed what the convention had hoped for …show more content…
Revolutionaries like, Elizabeth Stanton, aided the movement by organizing the Seneca Falls Convention and writing the Declaration of Sentiment, which later became the blueprint for the Women’s Right’s Movement. Although, it may seem as the women’s rights movement may be progressing there is still much to be done. From gaining the right to vote in 1920 to having a woman as a candidate for president, society has excelled tremendously. However, with new advancements different issues and problems come into play. In the last thirty years significant issues like constitutional equality, economic justice, ending violence against women, and racial justice have been the main topic for the women’s right’s
Towards the end of the 1760’s American colonies adopted the principle of English common law, which stated, “By marriage, the husband and wife are one person in the law. The very being and legal existence are suspended during the marriage, or at least is incorporated into that of her husband under whose wing and protection she performs everything. ” This meant that although men and women were “one” under the law, every action that a woman made had to be in accordance with her spouse, which in turn limited many rights women had like the ability to own property. This underlined the idea that women were not suitable or educated enough to own land. Nonetheless, eight years later in 1777, every state had passed legislation that restricted women from voting. After these laws were passed, more and more women began to feel oppressed by the guidelines that society had created for them. Although, some argue that the fight towards women’s rights began with the commencement of the Seneca Falls Convention it can be noted that the ideas that were expressed began much earlier. In 1803, the Newark Female Charitable Society began by providing systematic aid for the needy. This was an important step ideologically because it empowered women to notice that they had a sense of responsibility towards their community. Before then, women had been taught that their sole purpose was to focus on their household, but with this charitable society taking place women were now volunteering and taking time out of their household obligations to focus on issues around them. After the Newark Female Charitable Society began there was a quiet time in the history of the early women’s rights movement. About thirty years after the society began the Seneca Falls Convention took place. This was known as the stepping-stone for women’s rights because it was the first time a group of women got together to discuss the social, civil, and religious conditions women faced in society. Elizabeth Stanton, a strong supporter of the Convention, drafted the Declaration of Sentiments. In the document it contained what would later be used as the blueprint for the Women’s Right’s Movement. Not only was the document based on the Declaration of Independence, which had been drafted the same month, but it also highlighted the key points that women should be equal in all “spheres.” Shortly after the first Seneca Falls Convention, devoted supporters such as: Elizabeth Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone came together to organize the first National Women’s Convention calling a plan of action to women’s rights. Not knowing how the outcome would be the first day of the convention was held on October 23rd in Worcester, Massachusetts. As the New York Tribune put it, “above 1,000 people were present, and if a larger place could have been had, many more thousands would have attended." The convention was an ultimate success. In response to the convention strong opponents like the New York Herald misemployed what the convention had hoped for …show more content…
Revolutionaries like, Elizabeth Stanton, aided the movement by organizing the Seneca Falls Convention and writing the Declaration of Sentiment, which later became the blueprint for the Women’s Right’s Movement. Although, it may seem as the women’s rights movement may be progressing there is still much to be done. From gaining the right to vote in 1920 to having a woman as a candidate for president, society has excelled tremendously. However, with new advancements different issues and problems come into play. In the last thirty years significant issues like constitutional equality, economic justice, ending violence against women, and racial justice have been the main topic for the women’s right’s