Before the United States were officially united, men of courage decided to dissolve political ties with Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson, founding father and framer of the U.S. Constitution, outlines the colonies' grievances by utilizing syllogism. He begins by defining inalienable rights that belong to all human- beings. These rights include life, liberty, and happiness. Jefferson also declares the peoples' right to overthrow the government if these principles are not properly protected. Next, the wrongdoings of King George lll are outlined. Lastly, a resolution is proposed. Our Declaration of Independence was thus constructed in this manner. Although we gained political independence, equality and justice was still unestablished.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton presented "The Declaration of Sentiments" at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. The purpose of this declaration is to declare rights for women. She conveys this statement by mimicking our patriarchs in the most elegant way possible. Stanton begins in a similar way. Her beliefs are stated: men and women are created equal with inalienable rights and it is the power of the government to protect these rights. If the government does not do so, the governed who suffer may insist upon a new government. Next, a list a wrongdoings is presented. Men are made to be the equivalent of King George lll, and women are The People. Ironically, women were being deprived of all rights as citizens of the United States under the "new and improved" government.
To conclude, Elizabeth Cady Stanton declares that women are thus allowed to overthrow the government. The author says, "...because women do feel themselves aggravated, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights" (paragraph 20). The female populations' rights are not efficiently protected by the government that was designed under parallel circumstances. As a slap in the face to the patriarchal society, Stanton courageously mocks the principles of our constitution by using structure.
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