TOW #23: Written - "Declaration of Sentiments" by Elizabeth Cady Stanton

As the middle of the 19th century was filled with religious passion and drive for reform, the United States, after the Second Great Awakening, attempted and successfully provided reform and change for several different causes such as jails and the education system. However, an unpopular cause known as the fight for Women's Suffrage was shunned and looked down upon. During a time period where women were deemed inferior both physically and socially in comparison to men, the reform for Women's Suffrage was a long battle fought by both men and women who continued to persevere despite the obstacles that stood in their way. A prime example of such a reformist is Elizabeth Cady Stanton, an active leader in beginning of the reform for Women's Suffrage. The famous text composed by Stanton is known as the Declaration of Sentiments. Through Stanton's brilliant use of arrangement and inductive and deductive reasoning, Stanton shows the contradicting words and actions of America; this, in turn, aids in Stanton's attempt to rally support for Women's Suffrage.

The Declaration of Sentiments is inspired, arranged, and based off of another famous document in America's history: the Declaration of Independence. As the Declaration of Independence was penned by Thomas Jefferson as an act of officially declaring rebellion against the tyrant, King George III, Stanton realized similarities between the proclamation of the colonists and the mission of the Women's Suffrage activists. Stanton uses famous phrases such as "we hold these truths to be self-evident" and "that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" (1). However, a change and clarification that Stanton makes in her unique arrangement, which is based off of the Declaration of Independence, is the addition of a few words which causes the audience to question who the rights and freedoms of America apply to. This change that states "that all men and women are created equal" is shocking and radical; never before has the usage of the arrangement of a previous document been used to support a fight for women's right to vote. The arrangement of Stanton's document has similarities with the Jefferson's document; this brilliant idea of Stanton guides her audience to question and see that the freedoms and natural rights apply not only to men, but also to all women.

Similarly to the Declaration of Independence, Stanton exhibits a brilliant use of inductive and deductive reasoning to help support her reasoning and persuasion. Like the Declaration of Independence, the deductive reasoning Stanton utilizes is simply:

1. Major Premise: People have the duty and right to throw off, or change, a government that abuses the rights of the people.
2. Minor Premise:  The women of America are having their rights abused by not legally gaining the right to vote.
3. Conclusion: Therefore, the women of America have the duty and right to protest for women's suffrage. 

Stanton's thought process, which is very similar to that of Jefferson is easily identifiable in the introduction of the document, specifically the first few paragraphs. In addition, Stanton also uses inductive reasoning to support her minor premise; this provides evidence and reasons that justify the claim the minor premise makes. Such usage of inductive reasoning is seen when Stanton writes that "He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise. He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice" (1). Elizabeth Cady Stanton lists several more justifications, helping lead to the conclusion which is the minor premise in deductive reasoning. By utilizing inductive and deductive reasoning, Stanton shows the clear details and grounds of the fight for women's suffrage.

Though America is supposed to represent equality, liberty, and democracy, Elizabeth Cady Stanton expresses, through her composition of Declaration of Sentiments that these ideals are contradictory to what is actually occurring in America: women are being denied the right to participate in government and are refused suffrage. As Stanton uses arrangement along with inductive and deductive reasoning, Stanton highlights and augments the flaws of America in a classy manner that imitates the famed Declaration of Independence.