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How is the Declaration of Sentiments similar to the Declaration of Independence?
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The Declaration of Sentiments is similar to the Declaration of Independence in both purpose and structure. Elizabeth Cady Stanton modeled it after Jefferson's document to highlight the denial of rights to women, paralleling the colonists' grievances against British tyranny. Both documents outline specific injustices, with the Declaration of Sentiments addressing male oppression of women while the Declaration of Independence addresses British oppression of the colonies.
The Declaration of Sentiments was written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a prominent women's rights activist, and signed by many women who attended the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. The Declaration of Sentiments and the Declaration of Independence have similar backgrounds in the sense that those who wrote and signed each of these documents felt that they were not being afforded the rights they were entitled to. The Declaration of Independence, which was composed by the Thomas Jefferson addressed the issues associated with British tyranny over the colonies, while Elizabeth Cady Stanton composed the Declaration of Sentiments to draw a comparison to the tyranny men held over women in an era where there was great inequality between the sexes.
If we examine the Declaration of Sentiments, we can see that Elizabeth Cady Stanton used nearly identical statements as those made by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence; however, she inserted that...
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the rights afforded to men should also be afforded to women. The excerpts below highlight the similarities between the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments.
Declaration of Sentiments
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course.
Declaration of Independence
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
Declaration of Sentiments
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident, 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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed
It is clear from these excerpts that Elizabeth Cady Stanton drew heavily on the Declaration of Independence in her construction of the Declaration of Sentiments, likely so that readers would have a greater connection to and understanding of the women's rights movement. Stanton wanted to make it clear that the desire for women to gain equality and, in a sense, independence, was comparable to that of American colonists who wanted independence from England.
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