How and why did the lives and status of Northern middle-class women change between 1776-1876

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Between the years 1776 and 1876, many people from different backgrounds and religions joined the fight for women's rights. Among them were some of today's most memorable female activists, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was also a mother of seven children. She was first influenced by a Quaker woman, named Lucretia Mott, who she met outside of a world antislavery convention in 1840. Eventually, Stanton joined Susan B. Anthony, who was a fearless "militant lecturer for women's rights," in "a more strident, drive for divorce liberation, sexual freedom, and reproductive control for women. Other crusaders for women's rights include Amelia Bloomer, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, and even the second first lady, Abigail Adams. Those who opposed the suffragists believed women to be inferior and "irresponsible" beings who were "physically and emotionally weak, but also artistic and refined." They also had "finely tuned morals" and were the "keepers of society's conscience." On the other hand, men were thought of as "strong but crude" and with a natural tyrannical and savage nature that needed to be "guided by the gentle hands of their loving ladies." Abigail confirms the male's natural desire for arbitrary power in Document B, for she stated, "[...] all Men would be tyrants if they could." In the times of these notorious women, there were several injustices against females, that fueled their fiery and passionate desires for equality. In 1848, activists at Seneca Falls saw the likeness between women and slaves as an issue. They enunciated, "[The husband] has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages they earn." Women advocates also stated the husband becomes, "to all intents and purposes, her ma... ... middle of paper ... ...oups: "the moderate American Woman Suffrage Association and the more extreme National Woman Suffrage Association." In addition, the Godey's Lady's Book was first published in 1830 and it was "for women, by women." Ten percent of the female population even became "spinsters," women who didn't marry, so they could keep what little rights they had. As the movement for women's right progressed, females gradually gained more equality and rights. In 1839, Mississippi permitted women to own property after marriage and some states later followed. Also the movement paved a path for women in the future to gain more equality as time went by. Although the movement did open new doors for women, it failed to solve all of its goals. For one, women still were not allowed to vote. Also, women were still viewed as inferior to men, and they did not receive equal rights until 1920.

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