Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Elizabeth Cady Stanton played a big role in the history of women’s rights. She and her longtime colleague Susan B. Anthony remained friends to the end. Elizabeth was an active abolitionist, which meant that she was against slavery. She met and married her husband, Harry Stanton, in 1840. The two worked together to do away with slavery. They traveled to London for the World Anti-Slavery Convention. They were upset to find out that women were not allowed to be delegates.

Elizabeth came home to work on the issue of women’s rights. This is when she met Susan B. Anthony. They worked as a team to help women gain more rights. Elizabeth played the role of writer, and Susan would set up the plans for the group. They worked to get women the right to vote. They were upset when only free men were given the right to vote after the Civil War. Elizabeth also worked to change the property laws for women. She felt that women should be able to divorce if they were in abusive relationships.

Elizabeth died on October 26, 1902—nearly 20 years before women were given the right to vote. Her home in Seneca Falls, New York, now has documents relating to her hard work on display. Her writings continue to inspire women today.