... Independence: For All or For Some The Declaration of Sentiments written by Elizabeth Cody Stanton, and The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro by Frederick Douglas are two documents that portray their own explanation of freedom and independence. These two activists portray their justification in their own way, one heavily towards women the other towards the African American people. Freedom should be for all not for some, it should be for blacks, whites, men, and women. Elizabeth Cody Stanton follows the framework of the Declaration of Independence very closely when writing the Declaration of Sentiments. She uses the wording to show connections between women and the rest of the American people during this time. The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold this truth to be self evident that all men are created equal. However, Stanton throughout her declaration re-phrases this in a way that all men and women are created equal. Throughout the Declaration of Sentiments, Stanton mimics the style of the Declaration of Independence, in this case it directs its anger towards the King of England “He has obstructed the Administration of Justice” and “He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly.” She instead uses the word “He” not to refer to the king but to refer to the controlling males in society during this time period. Along with those issues Stanton also has concerns with the freedom of women in their marriages. While the Declaration of Independence believes...
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...In 1776, Thomas Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence, explaining the grievances the American colonists held with their British oppressors. Seventy-two years later, Elizabeth Cady Stanton observed a comparable oppression, so she authored a Declaration of her own, this one known as the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments. The time separating the conception of these two works correlates with some key differences. Yet, though these documents were written years apart from one another, there are identifiable parallels, both obvious and concealed. The Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments used similar strategies of repetition and appeal to logos in order to engender the desired reaction in their respective audiences. The purposes of these two documents vary widely. The Declaration of Independence was written to announce the colonies independence and removal from the British Empire. With it came the reasons for how King George III had become a tyrant, and finished with Thomas Jefferson finally explaining what the colonists were going to do about it. The Declaration of Sentiments also goes about the same organization, noting the reasons for why men have become tyrants over them, and finishing what they are going to do about. However, the Declaration of Sentiments doesn’t announce the call for a new country, but the call for reform. Instead, they are stating, “...that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to...
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...A Declaration of Sentiments, and the Texas Declaration of Independence Comparative analysis - American Declaration of Independence 1) So apt and eloquent was Thomas Jefferson’s expressive writing in the Declaration of Independence that many others have come to use his document as a template for iterating declaratory appeals of their own. In the case of The Declaration of Sentiments, Elizabeth Cady Stanton is seen to use Jefferson’s declaration as both inspiration, and archetype for her own declaration in opposition of the “repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman.” Stanton surely made use of the recognition, and authority which the Declaration of Independence held, during the creation of her preamble. Stanton continued in her writing to include a list of grievances which, while similar in wording and structure to Jefferson’s grievances, expressed a much different intent. The two documents differ here, as the original Declaration of Independence demonstrates how the freedom and integrity of men was denied by the transgressions of their king, while the Declaration of Sentiments demonstrates how the freedom and integrity of women, is denied by men. To better create a sense of sympathy for the plight of woman-kind, and to bridge empathy between women and the rest of the American public, Elizabeth Cady Stanton carefully emulated the wording and style of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident...
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...fought for equal rights; so women and men are seen as equal. Frederick Douglass fought for the equality of everyone and every race. Frederick Douglass used more rhetorical questions in his speech, while Elizabeth Cady Stanton got straight to the point. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a more effective speaker than Frederick Douglass because of her use of The Declaration of Independence, her list of demands, and her fight for equality. Cady Stanton used The Declaration of Independence to show what was said in the document, but what she thought should be used in The Declaration of Independence. Cady Stanton was more educated than Douglass. Douglass (being a slave) had no formal education. Cady Stanton attended Emma Willard School....
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...critiques Freud, Stanton critiques or revises the Declaration of Independence and in return Davis critiques Stanton’s work, the Declaration of Sentiments. Although there are many critiques it’s important that all of these documents exist because they have all...
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...A Comparison of Constitutions The declaration of independence of the united states of America and the two declarations passed by the national assembly in France, the declaration of the rights of man, and the declaration of the rights of women, have many things in common and serve similar purpose‘s. All of these documents were set in place by the people and for the people. These documents were made to protect and uphold the rights of the people. All state that Men and Women are created equal with certain unalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The aim of the many writers who collaborated on these documents is to protect the rights of liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. That government must protect these natural rights, and that political power is derived from the people. Every citizen has the right to speak freely, write, and print. Both the declaration of man and woman, and the declaration of independence were written under the oppression of two Kings considered to be a tyrants. The declaration of independence fought for the freedom from English oppression and the rights of men and women. As for the declaration of the rights of Man and Woman, fought for the rights of the French people under the oppression of king Louis XVI. Both declarations were written to protect the rights of the people who wrote them, as well as ensure a future not governed by a dictator, but one that is governed...
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...like a year, much has changed within what may soon be able to call our colonies. The once King devoted himself to inhibit development, trade, and our livelihoods. Men and women could not stand for such injustice, and small acts of rebellion became the cries for independence that we have all heard. After much debate and contention, men of the colonies have found themselves independent from the King of England, but where do women find themselves in all of this? One year ago, women were made to be silent home keepers, unable to have a voice. In many regards, this is still the status quo. Even though wives labor away in the home, in fields, and with family, property ownership and fiscal management...
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...The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was one of America’s most utilizing tools for advocating women’s rights. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was the brave author and advocate of this amazing document set before the government apposing legitimate rights for all women across the U.S. With the help of other women who were “fed up,” Elizabeth Stanton, stood and presented the first ever, unlawful acts against, that were posed upon woman in the 18th century and every year before that. In Seneca Falls, NY in 1848 at the very first women’s rights convention, was where the independence of women’s rights finally took a turn for the better. Not only was “The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions,” presented during the same month that the congress passed “The Declaration of Independence,” but was actually rooted back to the very same objective as “The Declaration of Independence.” Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the most influential women of the 19th century. Leading campaigns for women’s rights, Stanton’s goal was focused on "gaining opportunities for women such as; the right to appeal for a divorce, the right for complete custody of her own children, property rights, and her most fundamental demand at that time was for; women’s right to vote. Stanton was determined to put a stop to segregation between men and woman but also wished to instill independence and self-reliance in women nationwide. Within doing so, Stanton revised many imperative speeches, not only “The Declaration of Sentiments...
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...have taken place in order to achieve rights which belong to every person. Out of these, the rights to liberty and equality have always been the prime focus. This was the case in the American Revolution as well. After gaining independence these rights were highlighted in various documents like The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Some people believe that these documents did not really help groups such as the African-Americans or women to get equal status in the society even though it was stated that equality and liberty are every individual’s rights. However, over the years, these documents have been used by many groups in order to fight for what they believe are their rights. So how did these documents help the struggle of such groups? Before the revolution, the American society was colonial. In this society there were different classes and sections. The rights varied from section and class as well as gender and race. The rich and upper class men enjoyed more privileges and rights than the workers and servants. Women had considerably less liberties as compared to a man in the colonial society. They were not allowed to work and were required to look after the family. They were expected to behave in a womanly fashion. Women had to listen to the patriarch of the family and were not included in making decisions. They were expected to do as they were told. They could not voice their opinions nor could they say anything against injustice or unfairness...
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...In America, there is a very large gap between the fundamental values embedded in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and the discriminatory practices that have occurred in the past and are currently being presented today. If these documents are supposed to preach egalitarianism, liberty, and “all men are created equal”, how is it possible we have allowed the existence of things in America like slavery, racial discrimination, and gender discrimination? These documents for centuries have sculpted the ways in which we have progressed socially, however, what they stand for represents a progression that has lead our country down the wrong path. The fundamental value and most expressed statement in the Declaration of Independence is, “all men are created equal; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. This document preaches for equality and is the backbone for our set of American values, but yet discrimination has existed throughout our entire history and still continues to this day. These values are taught and learned by the American people through such documents as the Declaration of Independence, however these documents are embodying an idea that us as people do not seem to possess. Not only is this document extremely hypocritical, especially when it is looked at and compared to discriminatory practices in our country, such as: slavery, racial discrimination, and gender discrimination, but it is written by people who had practiced discrimination...
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... THE LAW AND TREATY Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence was drawn up by people that agree in their feeling of oppression both in taxation, in government representation and in religious freedom. Purpose of Declaration of Independence was to explain to foreign nation why the colonies had chosen to separate themselves from Great Britain. The Revolutionary War had already begun, and several major battles had already taken place. The Declaration of Independence came first to express a unified desire to be selfgoverned and right the wrongs Americans were forced to bear. It was the ‘’starter’’ of freedom. The connection between the Declaration of well the popular sovereignty is that the people come together to created a fair government and sustained by the consent of its people, and the people elected a representatives (Rule by People), who are the source of all political power. The Declaration of Independence is a document that ‘’these united colonies are and right to be free and independent states. the both support democracy and the big picture was to rule by ‘’the people’’. One quotes from the declaration of independence “We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The connection between the Declaration of Independence and the second principle...
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...ENG 2004 Elizabeth Hart September 2, 2010 Reading Response #1 Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments 1. Title: The title relates to the section, because it resembles the three part structure of the Declaration of Independence. The section was written in Seneca Falls at a women’s rights convention. The title also declares that the piece will be a set of sentiments, thoughts prompted by feelings. 2. Author’s Life: The women, Mott, Wright, McClintrock, and Stanton, who wrote the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiment were born in a time when women had no rights and were simply their husbands belongs. Mott and Stanton lived this discrimination first hand when they were forced to sit behind a curtain at the World Anti-Slavery Convention. From their experiences, they decided to make a change for future generations and declare that men and women are equal. 3. Response/Questions: I found it interesting that Mott, Wright, McClintrock, and Stanton chose to adamantly express that God/the Creator intended men and women to be equal. Also, the women used “he” repeatedly, showing that men were the cause of the women’s grievances and inequality. 4. Protest/Solution: The Seneca Falls Convention protested the inequality between men and women. They protested for the same inalienable rights that men were given to by the Declaration of Independence. Henry David Thoreau from Resistance to Civil Government 1. Title: As indicated by the title, Thoreau writes against the civil...
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...As Thomas Jefferson watched the Second Continental Congress approve the Declaration of Independence, the seeds of change were being sown beyond simple separation from the British Empire. Political ideals of equality, power for the federal government and states and economic theories for merchants and farmers would be affected by the signing of this declaration of war. The initial government created after the publishing, the Articles of Confederation, created a much different economic system, focusing on the state rather than the federal government after events like Shay’s Rebellion and the necessity of slavery. Socially, new classes were created in support of the war and America becoming independent, known as the Patriots and the Loyalists....
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...For nearly one hundred years, women had been denied the same rights as men. They were delegated to work in their husbands’ kitchens until the summer of 1848 when the Seneca Falls Convention was held (Loria, 10). This convention was the beginning of the Women’s Rights Movement that resulted in equal rights for women. Before the Movement, females were not recognized as citizens and did not have the same privileges as males. Women were roles were solely in the home and family and therefore, at social and church gatherings they were also considered lesser. Although many women were discontent with their lack of rights, only a couple were actually courageous enough to make a change. Among the few were Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, two of the organizers of the Seneca Falls Convention. With only five days between their decision to hold the convention and the convention itself, they drew up the Declaration of Sentiments; a declaration that would be...
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...The Declaration of Independence is the most important document in our nation’s history. The founding fathers of our country wrote the declaration as a way of stating what was wrong with England, and why they felt like they could form a better country. This document illustrates many ideals that we still try to uphold today, such as the equality of all people, the right to alter or abolish our government, and the unalienable rights that all people have. However, the most significant ideal in the declaration is that authority comes from the consent of the governed. While the other ideals are undoubtedly important, it is possible that the declaration would not have been written at all if the American colonies had representation in England’s parliament....
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