Women's Rights National Park Service National Historical Park U.S. Department of the Interior Women's Rights New York _______________________ F ■ • F fete I was born and lived almost forty years in South Bristol, and more: she could not make contracts, sue in court, divorce her husband, based on the Declaration of Independence, demanding equality in prop­ Ontario County—one of the most secluded spots in Western gain custody of her children, or own property, even the clothes she wore. erty rights, education, employment, religion, marriage and family, and Though middle-class wives reigned over the domestic sphere, legally their suffrage. The demand for the vote was so radical that even Mott protested, New York, butfrom the earliest dawn of reason I pinedfor husbands controlled them. Individual women publicly expressed their but Stanton had her way. On July 19 the Declaration of Sentiments was that freedom of thought and action that was then denied to desire for equality, but it was not until 1848 that a handful of reformers presented to an audience of about 300. "We hold these truths to be self- all womankind.... But not until that meeting at Seneca in Seneca Falls, New York, called "A Convention to discuss the social, civil, evident: that all men and women are created equal," announced Stanton "The First Wave" sculp­ Falls in 1848, of the pioneers in the cause, gave thisfeeling and religious condition and rights of Woman." at the First Women's Rights Convention. ture group by Lloyd of unrestform and voice, did I take action. ” Lillie. Facing row, left to —Emily Collins Why Seneca Falls? A significant reform community emerged in western The women expected controversy. True ladies, a Philadelphia newspaper right: Elizabeth Cady New York in the 1830s and 1840s. Among these reformers were aboli­ wrote after the convention, would be foolish to sacrifice their status as Stanton, Frederick Doug­ For Emily Collins, who went on to start a local equal rights organization, tionists who joined relatives and started businesses in Seneca Falls and "Wives, Belles, Virgins and Mothers" for equal rights. Many signers of the lass, two unidentified and for Other women of 1840s America, the news of a women's rights Waterloo. Here and elsewhere, Quaker women like Lucretia Mott took an declaration removed their names. But 12 days later a second convention women, Martha Coffin convention was a vivid reminder of their inferior status. By law or by active role in the effort to end slavery. For Mott, her sister Martha Wright, was held in Rochester. By 1900 armies of women marched for suffrage. Wright. In profile at right: Thomas and Mary custom an unmarried woman generally did not vote, speak in public, hold Jane Hunt, Mary Ann M'Clintock, and 32-year-old Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Today many of the convention's most radical demands are taken for granted. Ann M'Clintock, uniden­ office, attend college, or earn a living other than as a teacher, seamstress, the next logical step was to demand rights for women. In July 1848 they The Declaration of Sentiments was the start; its words reach far beyond tified woman. domestic, or mill worker. A married woman lived under these restrictions planned the convention and hammered out a formal list of grievances that warm July day in Seneca Falls. © JEFF GNASS Planning Your Visit The setting for the First The Hunt House was Stanton defied many of ists, temperance workers, Women's Rights Con­ the home of Jane and the day's housekeeping and reformers to fill the vention and the homes Richard Hunt, Quakers and child-rearing cus­ chapel. of some participants are active in the Waterloo toms. For many years preserved at Women's reform community. she dressed in an outfit On the first day they Rights National Histori­ Stanton, Mott, Wright, popularized by Amelia debated the wording of cal Park, established by M'Clintock, and Jane Bloomer, loose pants the Declaration of Sen­ Congress in 1980. Hunt gathered here on and a knee-length skirt, timents. The Seneca July 9 to plan the con­ which allowed freedom * County Courier reported From 1-90 (New York vention. of movement. that "an intelligent and ILLUSTRATIONS NPS / GREG HARLIN State Thruway) take exit M'Clintock House Hunt House Elizabeth Cady Stanton House respectful audience" Wesleyan Chapel 41; go south on NY 414; The Elizabeth Cady She encouraged her attended the public ses­ east on US 20, (becomes There are exhibits, a film, The M'Clintock House Stanton House was the lawyer and abolitionist "My duties were too seven children to join more aware of women's On July 19 and 20, sion that evening to hear women and men signed More Information Fall St.); follow signs to and a schedule of activi­ was owned by the Hunts, family's home for 15 lecturer, and three boys. numerous and varied parlor discussions with economic insecurity. 1848, some 300 women the "eminently beauti­ the document. Frederick Women's Rights the visitor center. There ties. The visitor center who rented it to rela­ years. Stanton's activism They had four more and none sufficiently visitors like the Motts and men gathered in ful and instructive" dis­ Douglass reiterated his National Historical Park is no fee for admission. is accessible for visitors tives and fellow Quaker was based in large part children. exhilarating or intellec­ and Frederick Douglass. Guided tours of the the Wesleyan Chapel to course of Lucretia Mott. support at the final 136 Fall St. with disabilities; ask abolitionists Mary Ann on her experiences as a tual to bring into play She hosted a "conversa­ Stanton house are avail­ hear the first formal At the next day’s session session. Seneca Falls, NY 13148 Begin at the visitor about access to the other and Thomas M'Clintock. Seneca Falls housewife. Until she met Lucretia my higher faculties. I tion dub" for young able in summer and on demands for women's the amended declara­ 315-568-2991 center, 136 Fall St., open sites. Service animals are Convention planners met She was 31 years old Mott and other reform­ suffered with mental adults. Her benevolent a limited basis during rights. Curious local resi­ tion was adopted; 100 www.nps.gov/wori daily except fall and welcome. here on July 16,1848, to when she moved here ers, Stanton found small hunger, which, like an work with the town's the rest of the year. dents joined abolition- winter federal holidays. draft the Declaration of in 1847 with her hus­ town life oppressive: empty stomach, is very poor made her all the Find us on Facebook Hours are 9 am to 5 pm. Sentiments. band Henry Stanton, a depressing." and Twitter. Seneca Falls and Beyond “What are we next to do?" asked Elizabeth Cady Stanton after groups like the League of Women Voters and national political Left to right: Elizabeth Cady Stanton with her daughter the 1848 convention. The women of Seneca Falls had challenged parties. Some asserted their rights on a personal level by attend­ Harriot, Lucretia Mott, Martha Wright, Mary Ann M'Clintock, America to social revolution with a list of demands that touched ing college, taking jobs, adopting new clothing fashions, and and Jane Hunt. every aspect of life. Fifty years after the convention, women creating professional organizations. Then as now, each woman saw progress in property rights, employment, education, divorce sought her own definition of freedom. After the convention. Hunt and her husband continued and custody laws, and social freedoms. By the early 1900s, a co­ with various reform efforts. alition of suffragists, temperance groups, progressive politicians, In 1848 the Seneca County Courier warned that the convention's The M'Clintocks moved to Phil­ adelphia in 1856. Wright and and social welfare organizations mustered a successful push for resolutions were “of the kind called radical... Some will regard two M’Clintock daughters be­ came active suffragists. Stanton, the vote. them with respect—others with disapprobation and contempt." Wright, and Mott, with Lucy The story of the women's rights movement is the story of ideas Stone, Abby Kelly Foster, and Although the ballot was never the primary agent of social reform, once controversial, now commonplace. The chronology below Susan 8. Anthony, led the woman's rights movement as many had hoped, the suffrage movement expanded women's outlines the major events that changed the status quo for women through its formative years. influence in the political arena. Again the question. What next? in America. Which of our present efforts will contribute toward Eventually the movement was called women's rights. Immediately after 1920 many women worked for reform through a future of equality? What are we next to do? Library of Congress Remember the Ladies A Call to Convention War and Reconstruction Revolution 1775 American Revolution en’s concerns simultaneously 1848 Elizabeth Cady Stanton devises strategy, while Antho­ 1863 After Emancipation Association (AWSA) to sup­ begins. Abigail Adams in 1776 with abolition. Sarah draws and Quaker abolitionists Jane ny lectures and circulates Proclamation frees many slaves port voting rights first for admonishes husband John and criticism for her 1837 Letters Hunt, Mary Ann M'Clintock, petitions. in Confederacy, Stanton and black males, then women. TheRevolution. other Revolutionary leaders on the Equality of the Sexes. Lucretia Mott, and Martha Anthony's National Women's Wyoming becomes first US to "remember the ladies" AASS splits in 1839 over issue Wright hold First Women's 1860 Stanton and Anthony Loyal League urges Congress territory to enact women's rattrctrit. rviier* zvtrica, xat nvaa. PORTRAIT BY GILBERT STUART GILBERT BY PORTRAIT in forming the new govern­ of women's rights.