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| Elizabeth Cady Stanton, photo found here. |
July 19, 1848
Suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton introduced a document in
Seneca Falls, New York, bringing to light American history and the need for
justice for women.
Throughout the document, Stanton alludes to the values held
in the statements of the Declaration of Independence. The first paragraph of
the speech uses language from the original Declaration in order to outline the explanation
to follow.
“When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course,” Stanton begins.
The new Declaration maintains a parallel to the revolutionary
document of 1776, using structure and language to show the similarities between
the unfair taxation of Americans by the British and the lack of rights for
American women.
“The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her,” Stanton said of the injustices toward women.
This approach to the argument is interesting, as it helps to
build all three of the Aristotelian appeals.
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| photo credit |
Ethos
Stanton builds ethos through her knowledge and application
of American history to her cause. She exhibits patriotism and classic American
values in order to prove that intelligent, educated women deserve rights
promised to them historically.
Pathos
The appeal to patriotism and American pride allows for an
audience connection throughout. Men want to uphold the justice of the nation,
while women want to become a part of the government and American history. It
also forces the audience to confront their emotions about the similarities
between British tyranny and women’s suffrage.
Logos
Stanton creates a logical argument through parallelism,
using a previously valid argument to make valid the argument that she presents.
The deductive reasoning used by American forefathers also applies to the rights
denied to women. If Americans were right to declare independence from Great
Britain due to taxation without representation, then women are justified in demanding
governmental representation as American citizens.
The actual Sentiments section allows for the women at the
convention to air their grievances to the government, an emotional vent that
brings together a frustrated group. The use of parallelism in the Declaration of
Sentiments not only allows for audience appeals, but allows for unity within
the movement. The document, presented at the first Women’s Rights Convention
organized by women, forced conventional thinkers to face the reality of a
possible change.
“Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country, their social and religious degradation -- in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of the United States,” Stanton said.
The final paragraph of the Declaration explains the goal of
the document: to be given the same rights that are given to men. Stanton
justifies the request by referencing the previously mentioned injustices. The
document successfully argues for women’s rights through the use of a previously
validated deductive argument. She receives 100 signatures on the document, 38
of which are men.
