Who Was Elizabeth Cady Stanton?
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902) was a leader in the American women’s rights movement. She was the first to demand women’s right to vote in the United States in 1848.
Her Early Life and Education
Elizabeth received her early education at home and then attended Johnstown Academy, one of the few schools at the time that allowed both boys and girls. Afterward, she went to Emma Willard’s Troy Female Seminary, which was a school specifically for educating girls. She completed her studies and graduated in 1832. While learning law from her father, she saw how unfair the laws were for women and decided to fight for equal rights.
Marriage and Fight for Women’s Rights
In 1840, Elizabeth married Henry Brewster Stanton, a lawyer and abolitionist who fought to end slavery. At the time, women were expected to promise to “obey” their husbands in their wedding vows, but Elizabeth refused to do this. She believed that men and women should be equals in marriage, so she demanded that the word “obey” be left out of her vows. This was one of the early ways she showed her commitment to women’s rights. That same year, she attended the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention in London, where she was upset that women couldn’t fully participate. This motivated her to fight even harder for women’s rights.
The First Women’s Rights Convention
In 1848, Elizabeth and Lucretia Mott organized the first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Elizabeth introduced the Declaration of Sentiments, a document based on the Declaration of Independence, which called for equal rights for women in areas like education, employment, and voting. This convention is considered the beginning of the American women’s rights movement.
Working with Susan B. Anthony
Starting in 1851, Elizabeth worked closely with Susan B. Anthony for 50 years. Elizabeth was the writer and speaker, while Susan was the organizer. Together, they worked tirelessly for women’s right to vote and other important rights.
Addressing Lawmakers
In 1854, Elizabeth became the first woman to speak to the New York legislature, which led to a new law giving married women more rights. She also supported laws making it easier for women to divorce husbands who were alcoholics.
The Civil War and the Push for Voting Rights
During the Civil War, Elizabeth supported the end of slavery. After the war, she was upset when African American men got the right to vote, but women didn’t. She and her allies worked even harder to fight for women’s voting rights.
Newspaper and National Leadership
In 1868, Elizabeth became coeditor of the women’s rights newspaper The Revolution. She also helped found the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869 and served as its president until 1890.
Her Final Years
Elizabeth continued to fight for women’s rights and even wrote a federal amendment in 1878 that was presented to Congress every year. Women finally won the right to vote in 1920, after Elizabeth’s death. She also wrote books, including her autobiography and The Woman’s Bible, where she questioned how religion was used to keep women from being equal. This book was controversial, even among her fellow activists.