Elizabeth Cady Stanton

American suffragist and social activist

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (November 12, 1815 – October 26, 1902) was a prominent American suffragist, social activist, abolitionist, and leading figure of the early women's rights movement. Her work laid the foundation for the eventual passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted women the right to vote.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Cady was born in Johnstown, New York, to Daniel Cady, a prominent lawyer and judge, and Margaret Livingston Cady. She was educated at the Johnstown Academy and later attended the Troy Female Seminary, one of the first institutions of higher learning for women in the United States.

Marriage and Family

In 1840, Elizabeth married Henry Brewster Stanton, a lawyer and abolitionist. The couple had seven children. Elizabeth's marriage to Henry Stanton introduced her to the world of reform movements, including abolitionism and temperance.

Activism and the Women's Rights Movement

Elizabeth Cady Stanton is best known for her role in the women's rights movement. She was a key organizer of the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, the first women's rights convention, where she presented the "Declaration of Sentiments", a document modeled on the United States Declaration of Independence that called for equal rights for women, including the right to vote.

The Seneca Falls Convention

The Seneca Falls Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York, was a pivotal event in the history of women's rights. Stanton's "Declaration of Sentiments" outlined grievances and set the agenda for the women's rights movement. The convention was attended by notable figures such as Lucretia Mott and Frederick Douglass.

Collaboration with Susan B. Anthony

Stanton formed a lifelong partnership with Susan B. Anthony, another leading figure in the women's suffrage movement. Together, they founded the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) in 1869, advocating for a constitutional amendment to grant women the right to vote.

Later Life and Legacy

In her later years, Stanton continued to write and speak on behalf of women's rights. She authored "The Woman's Bible", a controversial work that challenged traditional religious views on women. Stanton's efforts, along with those of her contemporaries, eventually led to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, eighteen years after her death.

Also see

• Susan B. Anthony
• Lucretia Mott
• Seneca Falls Convention
• Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
• National Woman Suffrage Association