Table of Contents

Elizabeth Stanton

Birth

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born on November 12, 1815, in Johnstown, New York.1)

Education

She attended Emma Willard's Troy Female Seminary, one of the few educational institutions available to women at the time.2)

Abolitionist Roots

Stanton was deeply influenced by the abolitionist movement, which fought to end slavery.3)

Marriage

She married Henry Brewster Stanton, an abolitionist and journalist, in 1840.4)

World Anti-Slavery Convention

Elizabeth and Henry attended the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, where she met Lucretia Mott, sparking her interest in women's rights.5)

Seneca Falls Convention

She organized the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848.6)

Declaration of Sentiments

At the Seneca Falls Convention, she drafted the Declaration of Sentiments, which called for equal rights for women.7)

Voting Rights

Stanton was a strong advocate for women's suffrage, believing women should have the right to vote.8)

Women's Property Rights

She worked to reform laws that denied married women the right to own property or keep their earnings.9)

Motherhood

Stanton had seven children and often wrote about the challenges of balancing activism and motherhood.10)

Susan B. Anthony

She formed a lifelong partnership with Susan B. Anthony, a leading suffragist.11)

National Woman Suffrage Association

In 1869, Stanton and Anthony founded the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA).12)

Publishing

Stanton was a prolific writer, contributing to numerous suffrage and abolitionist publications.13)

Eight-Hour Workday

She supported the labor movement's push for an eight-hour workday.14)

Temperance Movement

Stanton was involved in the temperance movement, advocating against the consumption of alcohol.15)

Religion

She was critical of organized religion, particularly for its role in oppressing women.16)

The Woman’s Bible

Stanton authored “The Woman’s Bible,” which reinterpreted biblical texts from a feminist perspective.17)

Divorce Reform

She advocated for liberalized divorce laws, believing women should be able to leave unhappy marriages.18)

Senate Testimony

Stanton was the first woman to testify before the U.S. Senate, arguing for women's suffrage.19)

Legacy

Her work laid the groundwork for the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.20)

Health Advocacy

Stanton promoted physical health and exercise for women, unusual for her time.21)

Dress Reform

She supported dress reform, advocating for more practical and comfortable clothing for women.22)

Anti-Slavery Petition

She circulated anti-slavery petitions as a young woman, gathering thousands of signatures.23)

Intellectual Influence

Stanton's father, a lawyer and judge, influenced her thinking about law and justice.24)

Women's Education

She was a strong proponent of higher education for women.25)

Political Candidacy

In 1866, she ran for Congress, becoming one of the first women to do so.26)

Anti-Racism

Stanton worked alongside Frederick Douglass and other abolitionists in the fight for civil rights.27)

She authored many articles and speeches on legal inequalities faced by women.28)

Personal Hardships

Stanton faced significant personal and financial hardships throughout her life, yet remained committed to her cause.29)

Women’s Loyal National League

During the Civil War, she co-founded the Women's Loyal National League to support the Union and push for abolition.30)

Library of Congress

Her papers and writings are preserved in the Library of Congress.31)

International Influence

Stanton’s ideas influenced women's rights movements worldwide.32)

Presidential Election

She publicly criticized political candidates who did not support women's suffrage.33)

Mentor

She mentored many young suffragists, passing on her knowledge and passion.34)

Public Speaking

Stanton was a powerful orator, giving speeches across the United States.35)

Criticism of Suffrage Movement

She faced criticism from within the suffrage movement for her sometimes radical ideas.36)

Death

Stanton died on October 26, 1902, in New York City, before seeing women gain the right to vote.37)

Posthumous Recognition

She was posthumously inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1973.38)

Family Influence

Her daughters, Harriot Stanton Blatch and Margaret Stanton Lawrence, also became prominent suffragists.39)

Literary Contributions

Stanton contributed to the writing and editing of “History of Woman Suffrage,” a multi-volume work.40)

Advocacy for Women Workers

She supported better working conditions and pay for women laborers.41)

Mental Health

Stanton spoke out about mental health, emphasizing the importance of emotional well-being.42)

Publications

Besides “The Woman’s Bible,” she wrote “Eighty Years and More,” an autobiography.43)

Broader Equality

Stanton’s vision extended beyond suffrage to broader gender equality in all spheres of life.44)

Commemoration

Various schools, parks, and organizations are named in her honor, reflecting her enduring legacy.45)