Week 4- Person 5

In July 1848, one of America’s most important conventions occurred that took the first big step towards giving women equal rights. To this point women have not had a voice with anything, and have in a sense been overlooked compared to the male dominance up to this point. They casted a vote and making a proposal asking that The Declaration of Sentiments be re-read by paragraph and then suggest that changes be made, and eventually were adopted into the document.

One of the great aspects resolved from having this convention in Seneca Falls, New York was summarized as follows: “That, being invested by the Creator with the same capabilities, and the same consciousness of responsibility for their exercise, it is demonstrably the right and duty of woman, equally with man, to promote every righteous cause, by every righteous means; and especially in regard to the great subjects of morals and religion, it is self-evidently her right to participate with her brother in teaching them, both in private and in public, by writing and by speaking, by any instrumentalities proper to be used, and in any assemblies proper to be held; and this being a self-evident truth, growing out of the divinely implanted principles of human nature, any custom or authority adverse to it, whether modern or wearing the hoary sanction of antiquity, is to be regarded as self-evident falsehood, and at war with the interests of mankind.”

The above quote shows the whole purpose of this conventions goal of moving towards equal rights for women. It’s a fight for women to be seen as equals with the men and their fight and inalienable right to life, liberty, and the upmost important right of all to have their pursuit of happiness. The whole history of America to this point has been about the dominance of male over the female and during the convention they pointed out a list of facts as an example of how they’ve been denied their right as not only a woman, but as a human being living in the United States.

Lucretia Mott finished out the convention with a quote that I think was very well spoken. She stated that, “That the speedy success of our cause depends upon the zealous and untiring efforts of both men and women, for the overthrow of the monopoly of the pulpit, and for the securing to woman an equal participation with men in the various trades, professions and commerce.” The resolution ended up being adopted and the women had finally taken their first step towards getting the rights they’ve been denied for so long.