The Women Behind Women’s Rights
Between the period of the American Revolution and the Civil War, women participated in many reform movements that ultimately thrust them into the fight for women’s rights providing hope for their future and that of all women. Some of the reform movements women participated in included: the humane treatment of the insane; putting an end to slavery; and subsequently women’s rights. In Give Me Liberty, Eric Foner states, “A few became famous, but most anti-slavery women remain virtually unknown to history (431).”
A woman I knew nothing about until now, Dorothea Dix, was a leading advocate for more humane treatment of the insane. Dix fought to establish mental hospitals to care for insane rather than placing them in jail with criminals. Due to Dix’s efforts 28 states constructed mental hospitals before the Civil War (Foner 432). Dix is one of many other women that would accomplish more such feats.
Another woman unknown to most, was Lucy Colman. Colman became an abolitionist lecturer, a teacher at a school for blacks and an advocate of women’s rights (431). She demonstrated reform through her actions. Much like Lucy Colman, Abbey Kelley also spoke against slavery, but was also a member of the Female Anti-Slavery Society. In 1838, Kelley spoke about “human rights.” Kelley lectured about anti-slavery for 20 years and was also a pioneer in the early struggle for women’s rights (Foner 409-410). Very provocative for women, Kelley wrote, “In striving to strike [the slaves] irons off,” women “found most surely that we are manacled ourselves (Foner 410).” Like slaves, women of this period were controlled by a master; their husbands. Also, much like the slaves, women were not allowed to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Their husbands took their earnings, which the laws of the time allowed. In addition, they were allowed to participate only in a limited manner in the public sphere. Men of the time believed a woman’s place to be in the home. Foner stated, “the public sphere was open to women in ways government and party politics were not (432).” Women made the most of what they had, participating in the public sphere, eventually expanding upon it. According to Foner the abolitionist movement inspired the movement for women’s rights (432).
More controversial were the Grimké sisters, Angelina and Sarah, defended the rights of women to take part in political debate and their right to share the social and educational privileges enjoyed by men. In 1838, Sarah published Letters on the Equality of the Sexes, a call for equal rights for women and a critique of the notion of a separate sphere (Foner 433). In this book, Sarah raised the issue of “equal pay for equal work,” among others (Foner 433). In response to a criticism of their outspoken ways, Angelina said, “I know nothing of men’s rights and women’s rights. My doctrine then is, that whatever it is morally right for a man to do, it is morally right for a woman to do (Foner 433).” Due in part to the actions of the Grimké sisters’, a convention for the rights of women was organized.
 |
| Lucretia Mott |
  |
| Elizabeth Cady Stanton |
In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the Seneca Falls Convention, which was a gathering for women's rights. This event raised the issue of women's suffrage for the first time (Foner 433). Stanton and Mott were veterans of the anti-slavery movement. The convention was the beginning of a 70-year struggle. Stanton helped write the Declaration of Sentiments, modeling it after the Declaration of Independence, both seen here. Within the Declaration of Sentiments was listed the denial of women the right to vote and the condemnation of the injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman. Stanton said that only the vote would make woman “free as man is free (Foner 433).” To further illustrate this belief, in 1872, Susan B. Anthony and thirteen other women registered and voted in the presidential election(http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moa;cc=moa;rgn=full%20text;idno=AHM4695.0001.001;view=image;seq=0005). Anthony and the three election officials who knowingly received the votes were subsequently arrested because it was determined that she was not entitled to vote. Anthony’s attorney argued that he based his opinion that Anthony could vote was based on the language in the Fourteenth Amendment “ all persons born or naturalized in the United States” as citizens. This language was determined to only apply to men.There were many movements by women that followed those named here and there were many successes. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until after the Civil War that, women obtained the right to vote. Nevertheless, these movements paved the way to where women are today. The movements resulted in a greater role in the public sphere, laws were passed that gave them property rights, and many women were practicing personal freedom in their intimate relationships (Foner 440).
Works Cited
Primary Sources
Declaration of Sentiments
Declaration of Independence
Photo of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, Veeder, lot 240
Photo of Lucretia Mott. Library of Congress. Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
LC-USZ62-42559, between 1860(?) and 1880
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/97500244/
Photo of Susan B. Anthony. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA,
Secondary Sources
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History. Volume I. 2nd Seagull Ed., London and New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2009
Susan B. Anthony. Making of America Books. University of Michigan Digital Library Text Collection
