Category Archives: Equality

Women’s Rights: Declaration of Sentiments

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Opening Lines of the Declaration:

“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. “

A few sentiments:

  • 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.
  • He has withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men – both natives and foreigners.
  • Having deprived her of this first right as a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides.
  • He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.
  • He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns.
  • He has endeavored, in every way that he could to destroy her confidence in her own powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life.

The closing lines of the Declaration:

“ Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country, their social and religious degradation—in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of these United States.

In entering upon the great work before us, we anticipate no small amount of misconception, misrepresentation, and ridicule; but we shall use every instrumentality within our power to effect our object. We shall employ agents, circulate tracts, petition the State and national Legislatures, and endeavor to enlist the pulpit and the press in our behalf. We hope this Convention will be followed by a series of Conventions, embracing every part of the country.

Click to read the entire Declaration of Sentiments at Wikipedia.

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

July 19, 1848 in Seneca Falls NY

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A is where I was born in Sodus New York.  B is where I lived as a teenager.  C is where I went to high school.  D is the topic of this article.  It is a place called Seneca Falls New York and on July 19-20, 1848 history was made here.

I used to see signs for Seneca Falls all the time growing up and even passed through there a few times on my way to Geneva to visit my brother.  But I did not always know of its historical significance.  The place is significant and the date July 19, 1848 is historical.  The eloquent and riveting speaker Lucretia Mott would be coming from Boston to visit Seneca Falls NY and the local women wanted to hear her. She was a Quaker, an abolitionist,  and a missionary.  Very few women spoke out in public back then, so she stood out as a symbol. A group of New York women (primarily Quaker) along with Elizabeth Caty Stanton (who was not Quaker) organized a convention to discuss equal rights for women around her visit to Seneca Falls.  Five women sitting around discussing their discontent with inequality decided to have a convention. They put out their first notice on July 11, 1848 which was picked up by Frederick Douglass’ newspaper, The North Star.  Imagine eight days later over 300 people would attend.  And, the forces for equality would be set in motion.

Click to read the Wikipedia account of the entire convention

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.