Women's Suffrage - 1848-1864

Seneca Falls 1848 saw the first meeting of women and a few men to call for rights for women. The meeting is often seen as the kick-off of the women's rights movement -- the first wave of feminism.

The text of the 1848 Women's Rights Declaration of Sentiments proclaimed at Seneca Falls, part of an extensive collection of articles about woman suffrage and the women's rights movement in America.

Biographies of the women, including Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott and anti-suffragists, from your About Guide to Women's History.

Best-known organizer for women's rights in the United States. A biography and links to more information.

Key early feminist and proponent of women's rights and woman suffrage. A biography and links to more information.

While she did not travel as widely for woman suffrage as Susan B. Anthony did, Stanton's writings and strategy helped shape the movement.

Lucy Stone was a key leader of the early woman's rights movement, and continued as a key leader of one wing of the movement until the late 19th century.

Sojourner Truth: preacher, anti-slavery and women's rights crusader, known for her "Ain't I a Woman" speech. Biography and links.

This article originally appeared in the September 1912 issue of The Crisis. It addresses the historical ties of the suffrage movement to the anti-slavery movement and regrets the later move away from defending racial justice. Martha Gruening, a white woman, worked for such causes as racial justice and peace.

An extended argument for women's rights, written in 1853 by Thomas Wentworth Higginson (later of Civil War fame, and discoverer and editor of Emily Dickinson's poetry).

On the 1999 Ken Burns documentary on Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

"Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Address, First Annual Meeting of the Woman's State Temperance Society, Rochester, New York, June 1, 1853."

A site honoring Gage and providing further information on Gage, women who wrote about Gage, and other 19th century women's history.

Speech by Charles Sumner in the U.S. Senate, February 9, 1864, on being presented with petitions from the Woman's National League.

Reminiscences by Frances D. Gage of Sojourner Truth, Akron Convention, Akron, Ohio, May 28-29, 1851. Includes the account of Truth's famous "Ain't I a Woman?" speech.

"Resolutions and Debate, Woman's National Loyal League Meeting, New York City, May 14, 1863." Opens with a statement by Susan B. Anthony.