FREE ESSAY ON ELIZABETH CADY STANTON AND SUSAN B. ANTHONY

ELIZABETH CADY STANTON AND SUSAN B. ANTHONY

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony is the most well known name in women's rights from the 1800s. Most
people who are not familiar with the history of this time are aware of Susan's reputation
and nearly everyone of my generation has seen and held a Susan B. Anthony silver dollar.
For these reasons I was greatly surprised to learn that Elizabeth Cady Stanton was the
original women's rights movement spokeswoman and Susan B. Anthony her protege. 
Elizabeth Cady Stanton married an abolitionist and gave birth to seven children. Shortly
after she married, Elizabeth and her husband attended a national anti-slavery conference
in Europe. Elizabeth was outraged after her arrival to learn that she and the other women
were not allowed to sit with the men and she vowed to do something about it. Several
years later she did. Her work in the first Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls was
just the beginning. 
Susan B. Anthony was indeed a strong, driven, and disciplined woman who had a great
desire and passion to abolish slavery. Upon meeting Elizabeth Cady Stanton she became
immersed in the women's rights movement, dedicating her life to obtaining equal rights
for all. Many men pursued Susan but she never married, she did not want to be owned by a
man. Instead she chose to dedicate her entire life to this cause. 
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were introduced several years after the
Seneca Falls convention. They immediately became friends and sisters in the cause.
Elizabeth would write the speeches and Susan would deliver them. Elizabeth's children
referred to Susan as Aunt and she often took care of the house and children for days
while Elizabeth wrote. This partnership was unique and beneficial because the two women
had very different and strong characteristics that complimented the other such as
Elizabeth's writing and Susan's speaking ability. 
Although these women did not live to cast their votes in an election, their hard work did
pay off by obtaining women the right to own property and fight for custody of their
children in a court of law. In this day women cannot imagine being thrown out of their
homes because their husband had died or being forced to leave their children in order to
escape an abusive relationship. However, these circumstances were a part of the everyday
life before Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony changed it. 
Elizabeth and Susan fought long and hard to abolish slavery during the American Civil
War, putting aside their cause for a time. Without their efforts, the abolition amendment
would certainly not have been obtained as early as it was. After the war they expected
the men to fight for the women's rights cause and were very disappointed when they did
not. They were told time and time again by respected men such as Fredrick Douglas that
the black vote was more important at this time and they needed to wait their turn. The
women were disillusioned and could easily have given up - most would have. However, this
betrayal only strengthened their resolve and will to fight for the vote.