American Liberites

"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." (Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions Woman's Rights Convention,
Held at Seneca Falls, 19-20 July 1848)

Everything and everyone has a breaking point, and July 1848 was just the beginning of the breaking point for women putting up with crap - for lack of a better term. You can feel just how much Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony wanted things to change, you can feel just how fed up there were with being seen as less than men, and you can feel that all in this one passage. Stanton and Anthony were the pioneers in women's rights. Because of them, a discussion began, a discussion that may have been rather uncomfortable to have during that time, a discussion about gender equality.

I chose this passage because Hillary Clinton is running for president. A woman. If you would have told someone that a woman would run for president back in 1848 they may have called you crazy and would have possibly laughed in your face. This passage shows just how far we have come as a country, it shows how better we are as a nation. Sure, there may still be a problem with gender equality when it comes to wages, but women can vote, own a company, get an education, keep their last name when they get married - if they choose to get married - amongst a slew of other things. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony played a critical role in making that happen for women.