Seneca Falls Declaration Of Independence Analysis

Summary
The Seneca Falls Declaration is in parallel with the Declaration of Independence in efforts to create a connection of how the colonies position was under the rule of Great Britain to how American men preside over women. Initially, the Seneca Falls Declaration begins by stating the issue of male supremacy. Men have a position in which “the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them” yet have never “[declared] the causes that impel them to such a course.” From requesting further explanation of male superiority, the Declaration declares how a government should acknowledge that “men and women are created equal.” Without the consideration of equality amongst the sexes, it extinguishes the “inalienable rights” of “life, liberty, and

the pursuit of happiness” for women.

Furthermore, the Seneca Falls Declaration, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, states without men and women having these basic rights, it creates a catalyst for citizens to “insist upon the institution of a new government.” Then, the piece provides situations in which a man acts as “an absolute tyranny over her”, and it leads to women being degraded from their

basic rights. The document insists on immediate action, allowing women to gain “admission to all the rights and privileges” belonging to them as American citizens. The Seneca Falls Declaration pursues to list the steps ensuring equality. For example, women and men have the duty to conduct themselves in the most upright manner as they both are subject to exhibit the righteous morals and religion. Lastly, with the fuse of both roles the declaration states anybody to go against the equality of men and women is to be “at war with mankind.”

Author

Historical Context
Unintentionally the seed for women’s rights was planted in 1834, with the Republican Mother.

During the Republican Era women were responsible in increasing the literacy amongst young boys and girls. Although, female academies did not provide extensive curriculum as the universities males attended, the creation of schools for young women was by far a big step towards reaching equality. With Andrew Jackson as president, he extended voting rights to all white males. Before his election, the ability to vote was primarily for the land owning, wealthy white males. By extending the voting privilege, it further led to the growth of the need for women’s rights. If poor white males could vote, then wealthy white females should be able to vote as well, sought the women’s rights activists. After a couple of elections, Abraham Lincoln becomes president and encompasses the free-labor ideal, in which hard work is the key to becoming wealthy. In the 1830’s mills were created, where women worked in textile factories. For once, women were able to descend from domestic routine and be able to have wages. However, women began to realize that without being able to own property or being able to vote left them behind everybody else even if they worked twice as hard as everybody else. With females like the Grimké sisters, women became knowledgeable about women’s limited ability to grow as citizens. In result, the gathering of women and few men, lead to the most significant convention: Seneca Falls

Convention. Led by Elizabeth Stanton and Lucretia Mott, they presented the Seneca Falls Declaration which entailed the demand of civil liberties and women’s suffrage.

Connection
Catalyst, a non profit organization dedicated to the progress of women in the workplace, demonstrated even after one hundred fifty years later, inequality amongst males and females is existent. Women “Take Care”, Men “Take Charge”, was created in noticing how only seven percent of women are CEOs of the top five-hundred companies in the United States, comparing to forty-six percent of the U.S. labor force. Through thorough research, results demonstrated that women who attempted to advance in the workplace were not ideally preferred, because women are meant to “take care” rather than taking charge. This gender stereotyping is encumbering on women’s advancement in the work field. Similarly, in history women’s sole duty was to nurture like the Republican mothers. The cult of domesticity is still having the rippling affect on women today, even after females were stated to be equal to men.