Elizabeth Cady Stanton – Working For Women’s Equality
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal…”
– Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Declaration of Sentiments
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a name synonymous with the burgeoning fight for women’s rights in the 19th century, stands as a pivotal figure in American history. While often mentioned alongside her close friend and collaborator, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a formidable intellectual force and a driving engine behind the early women’s movement. Her contributions, extending beyond suffrage to encompass a broader vision of gender equality, laid the groundwork for the advancements women enjoy today. This is the story of her life, her struggles, and her enduring legacy.
Born in Johnstown, New York, on November 12, 1815, Elizabeth Cady Stanton entered a world rigidly defined by gender roles. Her parents, Daniel Cady, a prominent lawyer and judge, and Margaret Livingston Cady, came from established families, providing her with a privileged upbringing, but one also steeped in the societal expectations of the time. She was the eighth of eleven children, though tragedy struck the family, and only five survived to adulthood. The loss of her brothers, particularly her older brother Eleazar, deeply affected young Elizabeth. Her father’s grief over the loss of a male heir instilled in her a determination to prove her own intellectual worth.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s early education was rigorous for a young woman of that era. She attended the Johnstown Academy until the age of sixteen, demonstrating a sharp intellect and a thirst for knowledge. Frustrated by the limitations placed upon her gender, she excelled in subjects traditionally reserved for boys, including Latin, Greek, and mathematics. Her father, initially dismissive of her intellectual ambitions, eventually recognized her potential and encouraged her studies. After the academy, she attended the Troy Female Seminary in Troy, New York, an institution renowned for providing women with a more advanced education than was typically available.
Marriage and motherhood marked a significant turning point in Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s life. In 1840, she married Henry Brewster Stanton, an abolitionist and journalist. The union was a meeting of minds, fueled by a shared commitment to social justice. Notably, Elizabeth insisted that the word "obey" be omitted from their wedding vows, a symbolic act reflecting her rejection of traditional patriarchal norms. The couple’s marriage was unconventional for its time. They did not always agree on the issue of women’s suffrage, and the demands of Henry’s work often led to periods of separation. Despite these challenges, they built a family, raising seven children together.
It was her experience at the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London in 1840 that truly ignited Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s passion for women’s rights. As a delegate, she was relegated to the gallery along with other women, excluded from participating in the debates. This blatant discrimination, coupled with her growing awareness of the legal and social inequalities faced by women, fueled her determination to challenge the status quo. This incident served as a catalyst, propelling her into the burgeoning movement for women’s rights.
Inspired by her experience in London, Elizabeth Cady Stanton joined forces with Lucretia Mott, another prominent abolitionist who had also been excluded from the convention, to organize a gathering focused specifically on women’s rights. In 1848, they convened the Seneca Falls Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, a landmark event that is widely considered the beginning of the organized women’s rights movement in the United States.
The Seneca Falls Convention was a bold and unprecedented undertaking. Stanton, drawing inspiration from the Declaration of Independence, drafted the "Declaration of Sentiments," a document that proclaimed the equality of men and women and outlined a series of grievances against the injustices women faced. The Declaration of Sentiments boldly asserted that "all men and women are created equal" and demanded equal rights in areas such as property ownership, education, employment, and, most controversially, the right to vote.
The convention attracted a diverse group of attendees, including abolitionists, reformers, and ordinary women seeking a voice in their own lives. While the resolutions presented at the convention were met with varying degrees of support, the call for women’s suffrage was particularly contentious, even among the attendees themselves. Despite the controversy, the Seneca Falls Convention marked a turning point, raising public awareness of the injustices faced by women and galvanizing the movement for women’s rights.
Following the Seneca Falls Convention, Elizabeth Cady Stanton dedicated her life to advocating for women’s equality. Her collaboration with Susan B. Anthony, which began in the early 1850s, became one of the most enduring and influential partnerships in the history of American social reform. Anthony, a skilled organizer and strategist, complemented Stanton’s intellectual and rhetorical abilities. Together, they spearheaded numerous campaigns, lobbying efforts, and public speaking tours, tirelessly advocating for women’s rights.
In 1869, Stanton and Anthony co-founded the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), an organization dedicated to achieving women’s suffrage through a federal constitutional amendment. The NWSA adopted a more radical approach than some other suffrage organizations, advocating for a broad range of reforms, including equal pay, access to education, and changes to divorce laws. Stanton served as the NWSA’s president for many years, using her position to amplify the voices of women and advance the cause of women’s rights.
Throughout her life, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a prolific writer and speaker. She authored numerous articles, pamphlets, and books, including "The Woman’s Bible," a controversial reinterpretation of biblical passages that challenged traditional views of women’s roles in religion. Her speeches, characterized by their eloquence, wit, and intellectual rigor, captivated audiences and inspired countless women to join the fight for equality.
Despite her tireless efforts, Elizabeth Cady Stanton did not live to see the culmination of her work. She died of heart failure at her home in New York City on October 26, 1902, nearly two decades before the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1920, granting women the right to vote.
Even though she did not witness the triumph of women’s suffrage, Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s legacy endures as a powerful symbol of the fight for women’s equality. Her unwavering commitment to social justice, her intellectual brilliance, and her tireless advocacy paved the way for future generations of women to achieve greater rights and opportunities. Her words and ideas continue to inspire activists and reformers today, reminding us that the struggle for equality is an ongoing process.