A New Look on the World

After reading from Suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, as well as Susan B. Anthony, it was very apparent that the knowledge obtained through the new advances of the 19th century caused many to see the need for change in some very important ways.

In the case of both of these women, they had abolitionists as close family members who were probably a major influence on their ways of thinking.  Even though racism is still hotly debated and didn’t entirely go away in the 19^th century, seeing slavery be reduced greatly and having close family members directly involved in fighting it probably led them to their desire for women to have equal rights.

I thought it was interesting reading from Susan B. Anthony, partly because of the way she used the preamble of the United States’ Constitution to assert that it was “We, the people…” and not “we, the male citizens…”  Using a document that was (and is) so important to the American people, one that would have brought them together in unity, was very powerful.  Not only was Susan using a document that was powerful on its own, but she was using it to prove her case, to show that she was right.  And to be honest, there was no refuting what she said.  For example, Susan stated “The only question left to be settled now is:  Are women persons?  And I hardly believe any of our opponents will have the hardihood to say they are not.”  Talk about powerful.

However, more than anything, I appreciated Susan’s approach a lot more than Elizabeth’s.  Elizabeth was very argumentative, and I felt like she was man-hating.  Susan was just simply getting to the core of the issue, but without laying any blame on anyone and without attacking anyone.  Susan had her facts, she used them well, and she came off as being determined but, at the same time, kind and considerate.  That, in my opinion, is how you debate and use rhetoric appropriately to get a point across, or to communicate in general.