Have you ever heard about women's rights? About how women began to fight for more rights in the the mid 1800s? When you think of women's rights, you may think of Susan B. Anthony. Well, she was very famous, but have you ever heard of her friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton?
As a child, Elizabeth Cady Stanton read and heard about a lot of laws about women's rights since her father was a judge. They always bothered her and seemed unfair. The main event, though, that brought women's rights to her attention was at the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London. She had gone there very soon after her marriage with Henry B. Stanton. They both were already against slavery. At this convention, the women could not participate as much as the men. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott found this unfair as well as many other women there.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott agreed to plan a convention for women's rights. You've probably heard of this famous convention: The Seneca Falls convention. It helped start the whole movement. This convention is one of the main things Elizabeth Cady Stanton is famous for.
A long time ago, women had few rights. One of the main things women fought for was suffrage or the right to vote. Many women were angered when African American men (who also had few rights) got the right to vote before women. African Americans got the right to vote in the 15th Amendment. Elizabeth Cady Stanton died in 1902, 18 years before women got the right to vote.
Women can be proud to know that many great people fought hard for the rights we have today. Though many did not get to see the results of their work, it was worth it so people of the future could have better lives. People like Elizabeth Cady Stanton show you determination and hard work can really make a difference for everyone to come.
More About Elizabeth Cady Stanton:
* Elizabeth Cady Stanton had a great education for a girl. She attended Johnston Academy, though it was a boys school. Since women could not attend college, she went to the Troy Female Seminary.
* In 1868, Elizabeth Cady Stanton ran for Congress. How many votes do you think she got? Do you thin she won? Well, unfortunately, she did not win. Not even close. She got a mere 24 votes.
* Elizabeth Cady Stanton raised a flag when each of her children were born. Everyone found this surprising.
* All of Elizabeth Cady Stanton's brothers died as children.
