The central form of communication produced at the Seneca Falls Convention was the Declaration of Sentiments. This document demonstrated male oppression towards women through a list of grievances and persuaded people to acknowledge the rights of both men and women.
Courtesy of "Report of the Woman's Rights Convention"
Comparison of the Declaration of Sentiments and the Declaration of Independence
"He has never permitted her inalienable right to 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 of 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."
~ Courtesy of "Report of the Woman's Rights Convention"
"He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures."
~ Courtesy of “Declaration of Independence: A Transcription.”
Stanton wrote this document similar to the Declaration of Independence to establish a sense of credibility. She believed that if these two documents were identical, more people would support the women’s rights campaign because it resembled the same ideas our forefathers fought for.
Other quotes from Stanton that embellish her passion for suffrage.
"We now demand our right to vote according to the declaration of the government under which we live. We should not feel so sorely grieved if no man who had not attained the full stature of a Webster, Clay, Van Buren or Gerit Smith could claim the right of elective franchise. The right is ours. Have it we must. Use it we will. The pens, the tongues, the fortunes, the indomitable wills of many women are already pledged to secure this right."
~ Elizabeth Stanton
"It is our duty to assert and reassert this right [to vote], to agitate, discuss and petition, until our political equality be fully recognized. Depend upon it is, this is the point to attack, the stronghold of the fortress-the one woman will find it most difficult to take-the one man will most reluctantly give up; therefore, let us encamp right under its shadow-there spend all our time, strength and moral ammunition, year after year, with perseverance, courage and decision."
~ Elizabeth Stanton