Write a well-reasoned essay of 1.5 pages in length answering the following question.
What does the Declaration of Sentiments reveal about the nature of gender relationships in nineteenth-century America? How do the newspaper articles illustrate women taking control of their lives?
Declaration of Sentiments
Declaration of Sentiments from the Woman’s Rights Convention, July 19-20, 1848, Held at
Seneca Falls, New York.
Introduction
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family
of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have
hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent
respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to
such a course.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of Government
becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance
to it, and to insist upon the institution of a new government, laying its foundation on such
principles, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect
their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established
should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly, all experience hath shown
that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by
abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and
usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute
despotism, it is their duty to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their
future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and
such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are
entitled.
The Complaints
The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of
man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. To
prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
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.
He has withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men
—both natives and foreigners.
Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving
her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides.
He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.4
He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns.5
He has made her, morally, an irresponsible being, as she can commit many crimes with
impunity, provided they be done in the presence of her husband. In the covenant of marriage, she
is compelled to promise obedience to her husband, he becoming, to all intents and purposes, her
master—the law giving him power to deprive her of her liberty, and to administer chastisement.
He has so framed the laws of divorce, as to what shall be the proper causes of divorce; in
case of separation, to whom the guardianship of the children shall be given; as to be wholly
regardless of the happiness of women—the law, in all cases, going upon the false supposition of
the supremacy of man, and giving all power into his hands.
After depriving her of all rights as a married woman, if single and the owner of property,
he has taxed her to support a government which recognizes her only when her property can be
made profitable to it.
He has monopolized nearly all the profitable employments, and from those she is
permitted to follow, she receives but a scanty remuneration.
He closes against her all the avenues to wealth and distinction, which he considers most
honorable to himself. As a teacher of theology, medicine, or law, she is not known.
He has denied her the facilities for obtaining a thorough education—all colleges being
closed against her.
He allows her in Church as well as State, but a subordinate position, claiming Apostolic
authority for her exclusion from the ministry, and, with some exceptions, from any public
participation in the affairs of the Church.
He has created a false public sentiment, by giving to the world a different code of morals
for men and women, by which moral delinquencies which exclude women from society, are not
only tolerated but deemed of little account in man.
He has usurped the prerogative of Jehovah himself, claiming it as his right to assign for
her a sphere of action, when that belongs to her conscience and her God.
He has endeavored, in every way that he could to destroy her confidence in her own
powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life.
Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country, their
social and religious degradation,—in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because
women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred
rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong
to them as citizens of these United States.
In entering upon the great work before us, we anticipate no small amount of
misconception, misrepresentation, and ridicule; but we shall use every instrumentality within our
power to effect our object. We shall employ agents, circulate tracts, petition the State and
national Legislatures, and endeavor to enlist the pulpit and the press in our behalf. We hope this
Convention will be followed by a series of Conventions, embracing every part of the country.
Firmly relying upon the final triumph of the Right and the True, we do this day affix our
signatures to this declaration.
Notices from the Massachusetts Spy, 9 October 1850
Notice.
October 9, 1850
On the twenty-fourth day of September last, Rebecah, my wife, and Abgenett, my daughter, left
my bed and board without any provocation, when I have made ample provision for their support,
and I therefore forbid all persons harboring or trusting them on my account, for I shall not pay
any debts of their contracting from date, and any person employing said Rebecah my wife, or
daughter, must pay me a fair compensation for her services.
Berlin, Oct. 1, 1850 CALVIN SMITH, JR.
Notice.
October 9, 1850
Whereas, Calvin Smith, Jr. has cried me down in the Spy, as having left his bed and board
without any provocation, and also that he has provided ample means for my support, this is to
inform all, that what he has stated is false, he got drunk, and beat me on the side of the head, and
it was not the first, second nor third, and ordered me out of his house, and forbid me entering it
again, and as to his supporting me, I have never been any expense since I was married to him, I
have found my own clothing and my children and the most of his children clothing, for three
years, and he has had several hundred dollars by me, and he is now under two hundred dollars to
keep the peace towards me. I pay all of my own debts and let him have money to pay his.
Berlin, Oct. 7, 1850 REBEKAH SMITH.