Introduction

The Declaration of Independence confesses both to the principles of liberty and equality when it states "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton for the women's rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. Based on the American Declaration of Independence, the Sentiments demanded equality with men before the law, in education and employment.

Assignment

Jefferson noted that “all men are created equal,” suggesting that this was “self-evident.” What sorts of conflicts and misconceptions may have stemmed from this statement? Were men and women equal in the early nineteenth century? Why would the writers of the Seneca Falls Declaration choose the Declaration of Independence as a model? What was the outcome of the Seneca Falls conference?

Primary Sources

Declaration of Independence (1776)
http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/

Text of the Declaration of Sentiments (1848)
http://www.usconstitution.net/sentiments.html

Comparison of the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments
http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/2decs.html

The Seneca Falls Convention in the Press
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr040.html

The Social Contract Theory, John Locke
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/#3.3

Secondary Sources

A History of the Declaration of Independence
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_history.html

The Seneca Falls Convention -- Overview
http://www.npg.si.edu/col/seneca/senfalls1.htm

Biographies of the Signers of the Declaration of Sentiments
http://www.nps.gov/archive/wori/biolisting.htm

Gottfried Dietze, “ Liberty and Equality” First Principles Journal
http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=503&theme=amexp&loc=b