4.+Purpose

Purpose The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was __created to call upon women to organize and petition to gain the rights and privileges that they were denied__. The intent and __purpose was to achieve equality and to bring change to a sexist society__. The declaration focused on the “**social, civil, and religious conditions and rights of woman**,” by listing grievances or injustices that were unique to them.To fully achieve and convince the public to support the women’s rights cause, Stanton incorporated **symbolism, allusions, metaphors, and hyperboles** in the declaration to achieve her purpose.


 * Symbolism:** Following the model of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the document symbolizes and encompasses the idea of equality and freedom for all citizens, which is the foundation of the United States.

__U.S. Declaration of Independence:__ “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --“ __Declaration of Sentiments:__ “…that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
 * The language demonstrates prejudice.
 * The language does NOT demonstrate prejudice.

=
The Declaration of Independence says, “…that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,” whereas the Declaration of Sentiments says “…that to secure these rights governments are instituted,” which is significant because by removing the word men the sentence immediately lacks **prejudice** towards any sex therefore demonstrating fairness and equality.=====


 * Allusion:** The allusions in the declaration refer to God, the Creator, and the divine which is especially important because it creates an emotional and religious connection to the audience.

"that the __equality of human rights__ results necessarily from the fact of the identity of the race in capabilities and responsibilities ."
 * this allusion refers to the abolitionist movement and reforms which had the same purpose as the declaration. (achieving equality)
 * Difference: Abolitionist movement was a racial conflict where as the Declaration of Sentiments addressed conflicts concerning gender.


 * Metaphor:**


 * What is the "great precept of nature" that the document implies that the nation has contradicted?**

//“Resolved//, That such laws as conflict, in any way, with the true and substantial happiness of woman, are contrary to the great precept of nature, and of no validity; for this is "superior in obligation to any other. //Resolved//, That all laws which prevent woman from occupying such a station in society as her conscience shall dictate, or which place her in a position inferior to that of man, are contrary to the great precept of nature , and therefore of no force or authority.” “He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.4”
 * the connection to mankind and nature represents morality and fairness, and by saying contrary to the great precept of nature, the text implies that men stand in the way of women achieving peace
 * "civilly dead" means that the women are unnoticed and unrecognized, and have very little influence in society

//"Resolved//, That the objection of indelicacy and impropriety, which is so often brought against woman when she addresses a public audience, comes with a very ill grace from those who encourage, by their attendance, her appearance on the stage, in the concert, or in the feats of the circus. "
 * feat: a noteworthy or extraordinary act of achievement, usually displaying boldness
 * When women pursue or achieve greatness, they are often ignored by men and thought of as inferior therefore there success in society is impaired. The feats of the circus represent the the achivements of women which are left unrecognized.
 * This contributes to the purpose by creating images of the circumstances of women that have been passed down generations. This is a justification for the desire of equality.


 * Hyperboles:**

"He has made her, morally, an irresponsible being, as she can commit many crimes with impunity, provided they be done in the presence of her husband. 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."
 * implying that women were like slaves to men is an overstatement because not all women were treated this unfairly, although many did endure this type of discrimination

"Section 1: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State **on account of sex** **.** Section 2: Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. "

The 19th amendment was passed in 1919, which granted women the right to vote which is an example of how the purpose of the declaration was somehow achieved or realized.

The purpose of the declaration was to establish equality between men and women and to a large extent **society has adopted new social standards to demonstrate fairness between the sexes, but the cause has still not been fully realized in modern society. (example: workplace)**