Womens Rights Essay, Research Paper

When our Founding Forefathers first began to construct the framework of

the government upon which our nation would be established, they

envisioned a society in which all individuals would live equally. The United

States was to be a nation based upon the fundamental rights freedom and

equality, in which a person would be judged not by their make-up, but by

their actions. However this vision of a utopian society was to be short-lived,

as injustice began to emerge from every part of society. Sex, race, and color

all affected the rights and privileges of the American citizen. And the only

way to right these wrongs was through years of struggle and perseverance.

Perhaps the group which experienced the greatest amount of

resistance in their fight for equality was the American women. For years,

women were

viewed as frail, petite creatures whose job it was was to carry out the

housework, and care for the children of the family. Only in the mid eighteen

hundreds did women first begin to speak out against their role in society, and

request the right to vote. By obtaining the right to vote women believed that

they would become a more influential member of society. They were no

longer content with their passive household role, and as a result began to

fight for their right in to vote. Two of the major advocates for women?s

rights during the late eighteen hundreds were Elizabeth Cady Stanton and

Susan B. Anthony. Stanton and Anthony, determined to change America?s

view of women and women?s rights, traveled the country preaching

women?s rights, played significant roles in establishing several women?s

groups, and aided in the publication of several newspapers advocating

women?s rights. Through their efforts, Stanton and Anthony probably played

the two most influential roles in the eventual institution of the Equal Rights

Amendment.

The first major step Stanton and Anthony took in advocating

women?s

rights was to embark on a two month journey, spanning throughout the

American countryside, spreading their message of women?s rights. This

journey proved beneficial for several reasons. First and foremost, the trip

benefited their cause as it took the issue of women?s rights out of isolated

meetings and brought it directly to the American people. People living in

rural

areas of Kansas, for example, were previously isolated from the issues such

as women?s rights discussed in the larger cities. By speaking at small farms,

halls and churches Cady Stanton and Anthony brought their campaign

directly

to the people, and in doing so opened the people?s eyes. But in traveling

the two women not only opened other people?s eyes but also their own. For

without the distractions of family and friends the two were able to, for the

first time, fully focus on the goal at hand. They were shaping their views,

and

by seeing people?s reactions to their speeches they were able to determine

the best ways to convey their message of women?s rights. Finally, by

traveling

the country Stanton and Anthony were also able to meet countless new

people, and in doing so establish several new allies. One of these allies

was George Francis Train. Train was a eccentric millionaire, whose views

were both radical and controversial. Stanton and Anthony, in fact, were

initially opposed to accepting Train?s aide because of his racial views

towards African Americans. However after assessing the possible benefits of

his support they eventually decided to team up with Train and accept his

help.

Perhaps the greatest benefit Train had upon Stanton and Anthony?s

campaign was his funding of a newspaper called The Revolution. Previously

unable to receive ample backing Stanton and Anthony were now able to

openly express their views through the written word, and deliver their

message advocating women?s rights to cities across the country. Through

their articles the two were able to express proposed action, and influenced

several women?s rights groups which were cropping up across the nation

during that time. Articles in the Revolution advocating Stanton?s prolabor

stance, for example, spurred a fight by the Working-Woman?s Association to

form labor unions in every industry involving women.

Although Stanton proved effective inciting action through her work

as a journalist, her greatest influence towards women?s rights came through

her work in forming and participating women?s rights groups. Stanton was

president of the National Woman Suffrage Association, during which time

the group fought for the writing, and adoption of, the Sixteenth Amendment

for women?s suffrage. She also formed the Working-Woman?s Association,

fighting for improvements in women?s labor conditions, and the Women?s

Temperance Society, in which she fought for women?s right to divorce from

an alcoholic husband.

Through making speeches, writing articles, and participating in

women?s groups Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony made

significant progress for the rights of women in America. They helped

improve

women?s rights in marriage, working conditions for women in factories, and

women?s rights to property. However it wasn?t until much after their deaths

that their final dream was to come true – the passing of the Sixteenth

Amendment in 1972. The Amendment, in full, stated that ?Equality of rights

under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any

state on account of sex.?

Besides women, another group which has seen great struggle

throughout American history is the African Americans. African Americans

not only had to fight for their political rights, such as voting, but also for

their civil rights. In the early eighteen hundreds the majority of blacks in

America had few if any civil rights at all. For during that time period, slaves

were not considered citizens, but rather as property of the plantation owner

on which they worked. These ?owners? were allowed to overwork, maltreat,

and even beat their slaves without worry of legal repercussions. Frederick

Douglass, for example, as a boy watched a fellow slave be drowned in a lake

by his owner for attempting to escape the plantation. Frederick Douglass

himself, was maltreated as a child; repeatedly beat and whipped by his

master for disobedience.

However unlike many slaves Douglass, in 1836, successfully escaped

from his plantation and fled to the town of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

There he took on a new name, a new identity, and a new role as an

influential abolitionist speaker. In 1941 Douglass gave an impromptu

address at an antislavery convention in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and

distinguished himself as a great orator, and an influential advocator of black

rights. One of the reasons why Douglass was so effective as a speaker was

because he was so well educated. During that time period the general public

view towards blacks was one of superiority in intelligence. When Douglass

then arose and gave powerful, eloquent speeches at conventions many

whites were taken back.

Education of slaves during the early eighteen hundreds was

considered illegal as it was perceived to make them more likely to attempt an

escape or rebel against their master. Those black children then that wished to

learn to read and write then were forced to do so in secrecy. Douglass, for

example, as a child became very intent on learning to read. And when he

asked a group of white children to read him part of the alphabet from a book

he was beaten.

Even after this opposition however, Douglass continued to read, and later

began to study an orator?s guidebook. Through this self education Douglass

prepared himself unknowingly to become one of the most influential figures

in the advancement of African American rights in America.

Douglass spoke at a multitude of antislavery conventions, both in the

United States, and later in The British Isles,(while evading the new Fugitive

Slave Law), and later became the ?station-master? and conductor of the

Underground Railroad . In the 1960?s Douglass campaigned for Abraham

Lincoln, and during the outbreak of the civil war helped raise two regiments

of black soldiers to fight equally, side by side, to their white counterparts.

And finally, Douglass helped fight for the adaptation of the Thirteenth,

Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These

amendments abolished the existence of slavery, secured the citizenship of

African Americans, and under the Fifteenth Amendment, made clear that

?The rights of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or

abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or

previous condition of servitude.?

When we think of America today, and what makes it great, some of

the first things that come to mind are the freedom and equality of all its

citizens. However what we often quickly forget is the fact that these rights

were only established through the struggle, hardships, and persevering

efforts

of countless Americans throughout our history. Each amendment to the

Constitution, securing equality, is the result of years of toil and struggle of

the minority group of which it represents.