Question

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; among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness. ...When a long train of abuses and usurpations pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a
design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is the duty to throw off such government, and to
provide new guards for their future security. ...The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries
and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an
absolute tyranny over her.
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 has no voice.
He has withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men- both natives
and foreigners.
He has made her, if married, in the eyes of the law, civilly dead.
He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns.
In the covenant of marriage, she is compelled to promise obedience to her husband, he becoming, to all
intents and purposes, her master - the law giving him power to deprive her of her liberty, and to
administer chastisement.
He closes against her all the avenues of wealth and distinction which he considers most honorable to
himself. As a teacher of theology, medicine, or law, she is not known.
He has denied her the facilities for obtaining a thorough education, all colleges being closed against her.
He has usurped the prerogative of Jehovah himself, claiming it as his right to assign her a sphere of
action, when that belongs to her conscience and to her God.
Now, in view of this entire disenfranchisement of one-half the people of this country, 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 the United States.
Questions:
1. What truths does the author say are self-evident?
2. Why do women have a duty to throw off the government?
3. What actions does Stanton want the government to take?

Answer 1

The text you provided is an excerpt from the Declaration of Sentiments, which was presented at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. The author of the Declaration is Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Let's address your questions based on the provided text:

What truths does the author say are self-evident?

The author states that the self-evident truths are that all men and women are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Why do women have a duty to throw off the government?

Women are portrayed as having a duty to throw off the government when a long history of abuses and usurpations, aimed at establishing absolute tyranny over them, becomes evident. The text suggests that the government has consistently oppressed women, denying them basic rights and treating them as inferior to men. The duty to throw off such a government is implied as a response to the injustices and the pursuit of equality and justice.

What actions does Stanton want the government to take?

Stanton is advocating for significant changes in the treatment of women by the government. She insists on immediate admission of women to all the rights and privileges that belong to them as citizens of the United States. This includes addressing issues such as denying women the right to vote (elective franchise), subjecting them to laws without their input, civilly dead status in marriage, lack of property rights, limited educational opportunities, and overall systemic discrimination. Stanton is essentially calling for legal and societal reforms to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women.

Step-by-step explanation:

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