From 1815 to 1850, discrimination was prominent in all areas of life, and affected everyone but Caucasian males. The Second Great Awakening, a Protestant reform movement, assisted in bringing awareness to problems such as racism and sexism into light. People began to take initiative to the problems that troubled society, and particular groups, such as women and immigrants, began experiencing more unjust treatment that others, despite the ideas stated in the Declaration of Independence against such societal treatment. Because of this, one can conclude that the United states did not comply with the ideology stated in the Declaration of Independence for all people by 1850 because women and immigrants, specifically, did not have equality in …show more content…
The ideals in the Declaration were not fulfilled because women did not have equal political or social rights, or even a bare minimum say in the issues that dominated society. Document 1 is a fantastic example of this, and states the inequality in its text- “It is considered improper for women to speak in public.” Published in 1848, it provides context for the Seneca Falls convention that would occur to bring attention to the issue of lack of human rights for women. Women had little to no say in society at the time, which then meant that their words had no value and that their opinions would never be considered as salient as those of men. This can be considered the definition of inequality, thought the Declaration of independence says otherwise. Document 3 makes a similar claim to that of the previous document, that women’s voices held no significance- “...He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.” Women, after marriage, were considered bound to their husbands and his needs. There was no need for a woman to engage in outside activities at that time, and therefore she was to stay home and take care of the children. This meant that women had little opportunity to go as far as men with politically-oriented lives could. This kept in mind, women had a low place in society and had to endure inequality in a ‘free’ country. Document 1 was published by an education project and brought attention to the many reasons for an instigation of public interest in women’s rights. It lists the many reasons for women to be upset at the empty promises states by the Declaration Of Independence, and quotes a civil occurence to back the authenticity of these claims. This document, as stated previously, provides context for the Seneca Falls convention and the rising intolerance for inequality. It has a large chance of being
Women's Suffrage was one of the many well knows Progressive reform movements. Women became involved in political issues like the Temperance Movement through the WCTU (women’s Christian Temperance Union). Document H, shows that many women were feeling angry and were being cheated out of their right to vote and to be involved in the government. The message of the poster is that the U.S., especially President Wilson, needs to stop worrying about other countries and start worrying about the 20,000,000 women that don’t have the right to vote. Herbert Croly also thought that the President needed to do more at home. He accuses the president of deluding, “ himself into believing the extravagant claims which he makes on behalf of the Democratic Legislative achievement.”(Document F)
Home life for women, however, was not as pleasant as society portrayed it. Once married, any property that the woman owned went to her husband, not only this but women could not vote. In society, it was acceptable for men to beat their wives as long as they were using a reasonable instrument, about 10 percent of women avoided marriage because they did not want to face the cruelty of men and lose their land. In a way, women of the 19th century could be compared to black slaves and when slaves gained their freedom, women started taking stand for their own rights. Their main goal was to earn suffrage, the right to vote. With the right to vote they would have a say in the presidents and would be able to fight against their abusive husbands. Famous women’s rights leaders were Elizabeth C. Stanton, Amelia Bloomer, and Susan B. Anthony, Stanton held the first feminist convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Here, they demanded rights regarding suffrage, divorce, property rights, and equal wages. The Declaration of Sentiments, shown in document 7, was written by Stanton at Seneca Falls convention. Seen through her claims, women felt they should have the same rights as men and, since they also payed taxes, should be represented in the government. The Declaration of Sentiments stated that all men and women are created equal, as opposed to the original declaration which
The ideals of the Declaration were not fulfilled because women faced political discrimination, and economic discrimination. For this reason it is clear that not all groups experienced the equality the Declarations states all people should
The American Revolution was an important sequence of events over a period of time that has affected early American society up to today’s modern society. It all started with the Revolutionary War, which led to the Declaration of Independence from Britain, and in turn created a reason for America to write the Constitution and develop their own government. Ideas of equality became a major point of the Revolution, and although it wasn’t very quick to happen, ideas eventually spread throughout the colonies, giving the equality that poor to middle classes, African American slaves, and women deserved.
This declaration simply stated the equality that both men and women should have and how all people are created equal. As it showed the self evident truth to say that all men and women were equally created. These sentiments were endowed with the rights to life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Modeled on the Declaration of Independence in order to emphasize the belief that women’s rights were part of the same democratic promises on which the United States was founded, it outlined fifteen grievances and eleven resolutions designed to promote women’s access to civil rights”(Berg,1)As this listed these facts and illustrates the oppression of suffrage, participation and lack of a “mouth in government”. Also, property rights in marriage, inequality in divorce law as well as education and employment opportunities.
The Second Great Awakening contained many social and political changes. People began to improve themselves and the Northern part of the country began to come together, like they were being glued. Equality seemed to be a recurring idea with the abolitionist movement, women wanting to be able to vote, and even the equality of opposite genders in the Shaker community. This religious celebration brought forth a new attitude in
In 1848 a group of women met at the Seneca Falls Convention in New York and began to formulate a demand for the enfranchisement of American women (Women’s Suffrage, 2011). Elizabeth Cady Stanton composed the Declaration of Sentiments, modeled after the Declaration of Independence, stating that “a man should not withhold a woman's rights, take her property or refuse to allow her to vote” (Kelly, 2011, para.3 ). The convention participants spent two days arguing and refining the content of the Declaration of Sentiments, then voted on its contents; the document received support from about one third of the delegates in attendance. The Seneca Falls Convention was not a resounding success, but it “represented an important first step in the evolving campaign for women’s rights” (Tindall & Shi, 2010, p.374, para.1).
(Goldfield, 338) Since the cult of domesticity was making women inferior to men, women decided to do as the slaves did and fight for their own freedom. The women’s rights movement began in the mid-1800s. Female and male abolitionist found it necessary that women should be able to have the same rights as men. Just because biologically they are different, it does not mean they do not deserve the same rights. Women were denied the right to vote, property and a right to an education or job. (Goldfield, 338) At first the women’s movement was slow. Many women were afraid to speak out in fear of being shunned by their community. This was a brand new scary task that Women for the first time were going to deal with. A women speaking out against the norms of society was seen as a terrible thing to do. When you have many women speaking out for the same thing a change must be done. When the first national convention for women’s rights was called in Seneca Falls, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott were able to successfully use the Declaration of Independence as a model for their own Declaration of Sentiments. (Goldfield, 339) In their Declaration they branded that “male patriarchy as the source of women’s oppression” (Goldfield, 339) Stanton and Mott called for full women’s rights and to become independent citizens. Although the fight for women’s rights was always an important issue, most abolitionists deemed it less important
Similar to the Declaration of Independence which showed the unfair laws Britain placed upon the colonies, the Seneca Falls Declaration explained the rights not given to women by men. One of the grievances in the Seneca Falls Declaration stated, “He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise. He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice” (Stanton, Anthony 57). In other words, women had to obey the laws just like men did, but women did not have the right to vote. Women had no voice in which laws were passed but they understood that by being citizens of America they should have a say in the government. The Seneca Falls Declaration clearly stated, “Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, there by leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides” (57). Women saw the inequality being given to them and they wrote the
For countless years after this document was presented, women were still lesser, and had to fight for basic rights that men had and worked hard to make their way to the top. This is a huge fault in The Declaration that government is restricted to a single gender.
On July 4, 1804, a group of young men in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, offered a series of toasts to commemorate the nation's independence. Among their testimonials, they offered one to a cherished ideal:"[To] the rights of men, and the rights of women-. May the former never be infringed, nor the latter curtailed." The men acknowledged, even celebrated, an innovative and controversial idea: women along with men should be regarded as the bearers of rights. But why were women denied to bear their own rights?
Have you ever wondered why did Emma Watson, Rowan Blanchard, Alice Walker, Queen Rania, and so many other people care about women rights! Well, growing up as females has never been easy as it sounds like. For more than 100 years ago, women had no rights. In the Arab Countries; before 100 years, female kid’s life wasn’t that strict till the time they grew up. While they were growing up they faced a lot of discrimination and harsh obstacles from around the world even from their parents, in the case of determining their own happiness and future. Women should be able to live their life as any individual. To be able to do what they want and make their dreams come true. If you’re wondering what is women rights, then they are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls of many societies worldwide. In some places, these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behavior, whereas in other countries they may be ignored or suppressed.
Considered to be the epitome of writers advocating for gender equality and essentially creating the modern Vindication of the Rights of Women, Betty Friedan’s greatest life accomplishment begin with here accomplishments as a Women’s Rights activist. Despite the myriads of writing pieces on the confinements of gender stereotypes, her accomplishments are shined in her co-founding of the National Organization of Women in 1966. She furthered her notions for equality of women by creating the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, which helped give more precedence to women and help them with abortion laws.
women slightly. Yet still did not make them there equality to men. In the time
If you ask a young girl what she wants to be when she grows up, she may tell you she wants to be a doctor, lawyer, or even a teacher. That is what any child would percieve their future to become, just like their parents. But what that little girl is unaware of, is that if she had lived a little over 150 years ago, her future dreams would be quite different. Women living a life of religious freedom, having a voice in government, and attending schools is normal in our everyday lives as we reach the new millenium. However, women did not always have an equal say or chance in life. In our American History, women have demonstrated and worked for reform of women's rights. Through seven generations, it took many meetings, petition drives,