Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a revolutionary feminist of the nineteenth century who wrote extensively and promoted women's equality while also railing against those forces in society that she saw as keeping women in their place. The paper traces Stanton's life, from her birth in 1815 to her marriage to antislavery orator, Henry B. Stanton. It examines Elizabeth Stanton's activist career as writer, as president of the National Woman Suffrage Association and as co-cordinator of the Seneca Falls Convention which resulted in the 'Declaration of Sentiments' - a call for equal rights for women and African-Americans. The paper also looks at the activities led by Stanton which paved the way for women's franchise in America, two decades after her death.

From the Paper:

"The amendment would in effect grant suffrage to African-Americans, a goal Cady Stanton, Anthony and their female colleagues had long supported. But it would do so in a manner that pointedly excluded women. Penalizing states when "the right to vote . . . is denied to any of the male inhabitants," the 14th amendment would introduce gender restriction into the Constitution for the first time (Frost and Dupont 169).
Anthony and Stanton saw this as an expansion of male suffrage, and they tried to generate opposition among other members of the movement. Her former allies refused: They would support the amendment, they explained, because the former slaves needed the power of the ballot to protect their freedom, rights and dignity. Cady Stanton didn't disagree with that analysis but demanded, "Do you believe the African race is composed entirely of males?" (Frost and Dupont 169)."

More papers on Elizabeth Cady Stanton:

• Essay # 64944 : "Elizabeth Cady Stanton"
• Book Review # 74712 : "Elizabeth Cady Stanton: A Radical for Women's Rights"
• Essay # 68090 : "Feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton"

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