Declaration of SentimentsDeclaration of Sentiments(1848)(1848)

Seneca Falls Seneca Falls

ConventionConvention

New YorkNew York

Main Points Main Points

Women should be treated as equally as men.Women should be treated as equally as men. ““We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men and women We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men and women

are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”the pursuit of happiness.”

Men have created a social and political Men have created a social and political tyranny over women by not recognizing tyranny over women by not recognizing their civil liberties.their civil liberties.

“ “ He has endeavored, in every way that he could, to destroy her confidence 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 in her own powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life.”a dependent and abject life.”

Women should be given equal rights to Women should be given equal rights to property and wages as citizens of the property and wages as citizens of the United States of America.United States of America.

““He has made her, in the eye of the law, civilly dead. He has taken He has made her, in the eye of the law, civilly dead. He has taken from her all rights in property, even to the wages she earnsfrom her all rights in property, even to the wages she earns .”.”

Historical Significance and the Historical Significance and the intended Audienceintended Audience

The public release of the Declaration of Sentiments The public release of the Declaration of Sentiments triggered talk among many women. It became interesting triggered talk among many women. It became interesting to women, as well as men, that equal rights and women’s to women, as well as men, that equal rights and women’s suffrage was a big issue. However, this document would suffrage was a big issue. However, this document would serve as the basis for the nineteenth amendment to the serve as the basis for the nineteenth amendment to the U.S. Constitution which granted women the right to vote in U.S. Constitution which granted women the right to vote in 1920.1920.

The Declaration also caused strong criticism and anger. A The Declaration also caused strong criticism and anger. A quote from a newspaper reporter stated that “it was the quote from a newspaper reporter stated that “it was the most shocking and unnatural event ever recorded in the most shocking and unnatural event ever recorded in the history of womanity” (Oneida Whig, 1848).history of womanity” (Oneida Whig, 1848).

The intended audience was the United States as a whole The intended audience was the United States as a whole and especially those in government positionsand especially those in government positions

QuestionsQuestions

Why do you think that there were Why do you think that there were men who agreed with and signed the men who agreed with and signed the Declaration of Sentiments?Declaration of Sentiments?

Why did Mott and Stanton believe Why did Mott and Stanton believe that women were just as important that women were just as important as men?as men?

Did the Sentiments have as great of Did the Sentiments have as great of an impact on Mott and Stanton’s an impact on Mott and Stanton’s society as they had hoped for?society as they had hoped for?