The Myth Of Seneca Falls Analysis

The nineteenth amendment of 1920 granted women the right to vote in American elections. Though it was a huge milestone in the quest for women’s suffrage, it omits a complex discussion of its true origins in the mid to late 1800s. Many associate the movement with names like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Additionally, places like Seneca Falls, New York are tagged as the birthplace of the Women’s Rights Movement in America. In The Myth of Seneca Falls: Memory and the Women’s Suffrage Movement, 1848-1898, Lisa Tetrault aims to uncover the mythological narrative constructed around the Seneca Falls Convention, as well as disclosing the factual complexities of the suffrage movement. Tetrault further examines the elements of the myth of Seneca Falls. The myth places Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and previously Lucretta Mott as the leaders of the movement. In essence, Stanton and Anthony aimed to monopolize the effort for women’s suffrage. Furthermore, Stanton and Anthony made the movement squarely about suffrage, when there was more to consider than just the vote. Other important ambitions were property rights, more involvement in certain professions and sexual equality before the law. All of which were equally or more …show more content…
This was accomplished this in a number of ways. First, they indicated that the purpose and ultimate goal of the movement was suffrage. This was, in fact, the most controversial aspect of the movement and was only passed due to Fredrick Douglas. This aspect is an important development that could open up various discussions about African American involvement in the women’s movement. However, Stanton and Anthony did not seek to acknowledge other minority groups. Stanton and Anthony were successful in their goal to control the narrative because they narrowed the focus and simplified the public understanding of the movement, increasing its