Question

Anthony states that preventing women from having equal rights with men is a direct violation

of the spirit and letter of the declarations of the framers of this government." In which sentence in

her speech does Anthony most clearly disregard the "letter" (the literal meaning) of the

Declaration and substitute a meaning that reflects the "spirit of the document?

Answer 1

Susan B. Anthony argued the 'spirit' of documents like the Declaration of Independence meant equality for all, including women, even if the 'letter' did not explicitly state this.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question pertains to a statement made by Susan B. Anthony, a women's rights activist, who argued for women's equality under the law. In her speeches, Anthony often interpreted the Declaration of Independence in a way that supported her viewpoint on gender equality. One example of Anthony disregarding the "letter" or the literal meaning of the Declaration and invoking the "spirit" of the document might be when she referenced "all men are created equal." The "men" in the Declaration literally referred to males at that time, but Anthony argued that the spirit of this phrase should include all people, regardless of gender.

Anthony's interpretation was based on the belief that the principles of freedom and equality should apply to both men and women. Thus, she emphasized the inclusive spirit of equality inherent in the document, even if the original wording did not explicitly guarantee those rights to women. Although not directly from her speech, her advocacy paved the way to advancing women's rights and the broader feminist movement.

Answer 2

In the following sentence from Susan B. Anthony's speech, Anthony most clearly disregards the "letter" (the literal meaning) of the Declaration and she substitutes a meaning that reflects the "spirit" of the document:

"And here, in this very first paragraph of the declaration, is the assertion of the natural right of all to the ballot; for, how can "the consent of the governed" be given, if the right to vote be denied."

Step-by-step explanation:

The above statement made by Anthony was not originally in the Declaration. By making the statement, she inferred and emphasized the spirit of the Declaration from the letters. Susan B. Anthony was one of the pioneer crusaders for women's suffrage in the United States. As the president of the National Woman Suffrage Association (1892–1900), she worked to bring about the 19th Amendment (1920) and laid the ground for women suffrage (1972). Throughout her life, she was committed to social justice and equality.