Seneca Falls Convention

The women got together and held the Seneca Falls Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, on July 19 and 20, 1848. More than 300 people attended, including 40 men, one of whom was abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote the Declaration of Sentiments. She modeled it after the Declaration of Independence. Stanton changed the words to say all men and women are created equal. She also included 11 resolutions to be discussed at the convention and a list of injuries on the part of men towards women.

At the convention, the men and women voted on several resolutions presented by Stanton's Declaration of Sentiments. All the resolutions were quickly passed except Women’s Suffrage, or the right to vote for women. Elizabeth Cady Stanton argued that the power to make the laws was the right through which all other rights could be secured. Frederick Douglass eventually convinced the convention to pass Stanton’s resolution on women voting.

Although no laws were actually changed, the Seneca Falls Convention was the first organized movement toward Women Suffrage in America.

Strategy for Change

Suffragist leaders used a three part strategy. First they lobbied to try to convince the legislative branch of their states to give women the right to vote. Next they tested out court cases to see if they applied to women. They wanted to prove that women were citizens just like men. After that, they tried to introduce an amendment to give women the right to vote.

Strong Women Fight for a Cause

The Women’s Suffrage Movement continued for 80 years.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton believed that unless women could change laws, they could do very little to change their role in society. In order to change laws, she believed women needed the right to vote. She was married with seven children, but she dedicated her life to winning women’s right to vote.