“The declaration of sentiments and resolutions which was drafted by Elizabeth Cady at Seneca Falls regarding the women’s rights demanded equality of women with men before the law, education as well as in employment.” (Olson, p. 37-9).
Elizabeth’s cousin, Smith gave a key address which integrated a demand for “universal suffrage in its expansive sense which would enable females just as males be unconstrained to vote” by then there was no country which allowed suffrage rights to extend beyond one of the sexes.
As a result, the nations were considered as still maintaining their barbarism due to the exclusion of women and as a result, the Christian denominations voiced their concern on women being allowed to rise up to the same level of the human family, practically. (Olson, p. 37-9).
The National Women’s Right Convention however highlighted some challenges that were facing them which included; how the women could best convince others on their need for equality, whether the movement should involve men or not, who was to be blamed for women’s inequality, as well as what were the remedies that they were supposed to seek.
However the movement had one clear goal, which was to secure women, a political, legal and social equality with their male counterparts which will give them an opportunity to freely choose for herself (Olson, p. 37-9).
In 1968, the New England Woman Suffrage Association was formed; it was the first major political society establishment which was focused on gaining suffrage for women. This organization was led by men and was pushed forward by republicans but, to advocate the rights for the African-American instead.
This gave rise to National Women Suffrage Association which was made up primarily for women with an objective to secure an amendment to the constitution in favor of women suffrage. The organization was determined to work on the uprising with inclusions of far-reaching feminist’s challenges to long-established female roles. “Later the two organizations merged to form one national organization known as the National America Women Suffrage Association.
However, due to the fear that women would use their votes to enact prohibition of alcoholic beverages, a significant portion of opposition to women’s suffrage came up in late 19th century.” (Olson, p. 86-9).
In the early 20th century, women were up in arms for the war on democracy, demonstrating with banners that said United States was not a democracy.
More drastic strategies were used for a national suffrage for constitution amendment which included protesting against the white house, staging larger suffrage campaigns and demonstrations which resulted in many being arrested and taken to detention centers. “In 1913, thousands of participants marched on president Woodrow inauguration day resulting in a violence breakout which injured two hundred people.” (Olson, p. 86-9).
Accordingly the cult for domestic had a great impact on the changes that were experienced during this revolution. Women were put in the centre of the domestic sphere where they were expected to ensure calmness and nurture motherhood, be loving, faithful as well as passive, delicate and virtual creatures.
As a result, in their fight for democracy, women rejected men by voting for the revolution claiming that men’s place was in the army, if men were to adopt peaceful methods, this would make women not to look up on them and in turn, men will lose their charm if they abandon their natural state and involve themselves in matters concerning women.
This was due to the fact that men’s way of settling any issue was through fighting until they had their way finally. In addition, women were considered too emotional to vote (Olson, p. 117).
As a result, women were for the first time considered important participants in the major bodies of political, legal, educational and social contribution and they gradually found their way into these institutions’ leadership position.
The constitution’s amendment on issues concerning rights of women was signed in and women had their right to run for various major positions, such as presidency, leader of major organizations as well as campaigning for their right in industrial job and management positions which were all as a result of the Seneca Falls’ Declaration of Sentiment and Resolutions (Olson, p. 251)
Works Cited
Olson, Lynne. Freedom’s daughters: the unsung heroin of the civil rights movement from 1830 to 1970. Elyria: Scribner, 2001. Print.