More Than a Document: The Juxtaposition Between the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments

Graphic by Arola Oluwehinmi

“We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal.”[i] This familiar phrase has made its way into textbooks, history classes, and even popular show tunes. However, it is not Thomas Jefferson to whom this phrase is attributed. Instead, it belongs to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the author of the Declaration of Sentiments. She sparked new thought and controversy when she altered Jefferson’s famous words by adding two more: and women. 

The Declaration of Independence was created in 1776, announcing the American colonies’ separation from England. The general goal of the document was to point out the wrongdoings of the king and set in place new guidelines for an independent nation. This sparked the fire for the American Revolution and allowed the colonies to create alliances with other countries, ultimately leading to the goal the document set out to achieve. The Declaration of Sentiments was created almost a century later in 1848 to change the oppression women faced in society. The goal was to achieve women’s equality with men under the law, education, and employment. Both respective documents were essential to American history, yet it is undeniable that Jefferson’s work is more well-known today. Stanton modeled her work off of Jefferson’s, and yet she was ridiculed while Jefferson was praised. Now, in the 21st century, Jefferson’s document is revered while Stanton’s is a footnote. Despite the similarities between the two documents, their contrasting reception and influence then and now represents the underlying patriarchal culture set in place by the former and the struggle of the latter to eliminate this culture. 

The Declaration of Independence was a document that created a movement Americans rallied behind and motivated all people to achieve the goal it outlined. It served as a voice for American grievances and an outline for the new expectations, but, beyond making these expectations clear, also served as a unifying force. It was symbolic of the unified front of the colonies and demonstrated a nation's people asserting their liberty to determine their own government. The Scots Magazine published an article on August 1, 1776, which says, “On Wednefday laft [sic], the declaration of independence was read at the head of each brigade of the continental army, pofted [sic] at and near New York, and every where [sic] received with loud huzzahs, and the utmoft demonftrations [sic] of joy.”[ii] This is not to claim that the Declaration received no opposition; some delegates refused to sign the document and entire colonies opposed independence. Regardless, Jefferson as the author was revered for his work, and the call to action that the document set out to accomplish was championed quickly after it was published—regardless of how ambitious the task was, the American people were up for it.

The Declaration of Sentiments was read out loud by Elizabeth Cady Stanton at the Women’s Rights Convention in July 1848 at Seneca Falls, New York. The primary goal of this document was women’s suffrage, an issue that Stanton believed was very timely for the new nation. This belief was not held by many at the time. Her writing became the subject of ridicule and sarcasm, a response that shocked Stanton. In her autobiography, she writes, “No words could express our astonishment on finding, a few days afterward, that what seemed to us so timely, so rational, and so sacred, should be a subject for sarcasm and ridicule.”[iii] People were not motivated to advocate for this issue due to the lack of earnestness that met Stanton’s Declaration of Sentiments. Systemic sexism was engraved in society by the time this topic was proposed. Jefferson’s declaration was made by men, for men; the founding fathers had no intention of including women. This foundation played a role in the country’s formation and what a women’s role in the country would evolve to be. Jefferson’s declaration, and its ignorance towards women’s rights, cannot be ignored when examining the reception Stanton received upon her declaration. 

The stark contrast of responses between the two documents, despite their being notably similar, demonstrates the way this issue was not seen as a priority and how American society did not take women seriously. Even though the Declaration of Sentiments is “modeled on the framework of the American Declaration of Independence” and shares a similar grammatical structure, there is a large difference in the positive attention they received.[iv] The Declaration of Sentiments had a call-to-action that built off of Jefferson’s original ideals of independence and equality: she says, “we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of these United States.”[v] People didn’t follow the call she asked for because the ideals the country was built upon by the original declaration excluded any consideration of and for women. 

Days after the Seneca Falls convention, when Cady Stanton read her declaration out loud, an article was published in Philadelphia Public Ledger and Daily Transcript stating, “The ladies of Philadelphia, therefore, under the influence of the most serious ‘sober second thoughts,’ are resolved to maintain their rights as Wives, Belles, Virgins, and Mothers, and not as Women.”[vi] This sheds light on the fact that a woman's autonomy was still non-existent. People still believed that women only belonged in a domestic role, and the people in power were not motivated to provide rights like suffrage to women. Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave who later became a prominent activist, attended Stanton’s conference, and it was only when he spoke that people took the convention seriously. In the end, 100 people signed the Declaration: 66 women and 38 men. In comparison to the Declaration of Independence, which reached its goal relatively quickly, women’s suffrage was not achieved until over 70 years after the Declaration of Sentiments was published. There was no rush for women’s rights because of the lack of respect and priority for women’s rights that the founding fathers programmed the country to since its birth. 

The response of the documents when they were published translates to modern-day, where Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence is much more well-known and held to a more honorable position as the foundation of our country. There is an immediate familiarity with Jefferson, and that his most notable work is the Declaration of Independence. However, not everyone is familiar with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her work. There is some validity to this, as the Declaration of Independence was a catalyst for the desire for independence. However, Stanton’s Declaration was also a catalyst for reform to women’s rights in education, employment, and government. Jefferson having much more fame and respect for his work than Stanton is symbolic of a much more deep issue at play, which was the underlying culture set in place by the Declaration of Independence and other founding documents that put women in the shadows and did not prioritize women’s rights.

Even though there are lasting effects of women’s oppression, there are ways to improve and build upon the thought that Stanton was trying to spark. The Declaration of Independence is a staple in American history, and there is no denying its importance. But, it is crucial not to hold Jefferson to a certain pedestal. The Declaration of Independence was filled with contradictions, starting in the first line: “that all men are created equal.”[vii] Jefferson, a slave owner and white supremacist, was not seen as less credible for this clearly hypocritical statement. Even now, we are only just beginning to view the founding fathers and their works through a more critical lens. Recognizing that while this is an important document but that it is not a perfect document is the first step in turning the attention to Stanton. The next step is applying what Stanton wrote to the current issues women face in society. While there have certainly been improvements to the rights and privileges of women since Stanton created this document, women are still limited in all aspects of life. These changes are feasible if all people, not just women, respond to Stanton’s call-to-action that she called people to many years ago; these changes are feasible if we look at the Declaration of Sentiments with the same reverence as the Declaration of Independence, not as a footnote in our history. 

REFERENCES

[i] Elizabeth Cady Stanton, “Declaration of Sentiments,” July 19, 1848  

[ii] Mary McKee, n.d. “Declaration of Independence.” The British Newspaper Archive. https://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2017/07/04/british-reaction-to-americas-declaration-of-independence/. 

[iii] “Reactions to Seneca Falls.” n.d. Women and the American Story. https://www.nyhistory.org/sites/default/files/newfiles/cwh-curriculum/Module%202/Resources/Resource%2017%20Reactions%20to%20Seneca%20Falls.pdf. 

[iv] “Women's Suffrage.” n.d. Digital Arizona Library. https://azlibrary.gov/dazl/learners/research-topics/womens-suffrage.

[v] Elizabeth Cady Stanton, “Declaration of Sentiments,” July 19, 1848

[vi] “Reactions to Seneca Falls.” n.d. Women and the American Story.

[vii] Thomas Jefferson, “The Declaration of Independence,” July 4, 1776