Elizabeth Cady Stanton Uses Parallelism in Declaration of Sentiments

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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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.