 Women could not vote!  If women were married: › they had no right to own property › Retain their own earnings.

 The 2 nd Great Awakening opened many doors for women.  The movement de-emphasized obedience to a minister and celebrated good works.  Women was able to participate more fully in religious affairs.  Women formed groups such as missionary societies and bible study groups.  These church societies led to reform societies.

 Reform Societies grew in number between 1830’s- 1840’s.  Thousands of women joined reform movements such as  Education  Urban Reforms  Abolition  Temperance Movements

 Many women were very active in the abolitionist movement.  During the abolitionist movement, the issue of women’s right became an issue.  At the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention (London 1840)- Lucretia Mott and other women were not allowed to be seated but expected to be seated in a screened-off section.

 July 1848  Seneca Falls, New York  1 st women’s rights convention in America  Main Goal: Obtain political power to advance the reforms that mattered to them.  Organized: › Lucretia Mott- Philadelphia Quaker, leading abolitionist › Elizabeth Cady Stanton- abolitionist

 Written by: Elizabeth Cady Stanton  Modeled after Declaration of Independence  Declaration of Sentiments stated their belief that “all men and women are created equal.”  Breakdown of Participants: › 100 participants  68 Women  32 Men

 The ideas and those who supported the Declaration of Sentiments were ridiculed.  Men were ridiculed for the support of women.