"ALL MEN AND WOMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL"

FIRST WOMEN'S RIGHTS CONVENTION HELD AT SENECA FALLS

Seneca Falls, New York (JFK+50) On July 19, 1848, the first women's rights convention ever held in the United States opened here in Seneca Falls*.  About 200 women were in attendance for the opening session.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton**, one of the organizers of the convention with Lucretia Mott, read a 'Declaration of Sentiments and Grievance.'  The declaration began with these words...

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men and women are created equal."

*Seneca Falls, New York is located an hour west of Syracuse & is the birthplace of the American women's rights movement.  It is home of the Women's Rights National Historic Park & the National Women's Hall of Fame.

SF became a hotbed for social and religious reform including abolition of slavery before the Civil War.  The 1st women's rights convention was held at Wesleyan Chapel on Fall Street. 

**Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was born in Johnstown, New York & became leader of the Women's Rights Movement in the U.S. in the 19th century.  ECS was president of the National Women's Suffrage Association. 

*JFK+50 NOTE

Men were not allowed to attend the opening day's events, but were permitted the second day.  Of 40 males attending, abolitionist Frederick Douglass was the most well-known.

SOURCES

"History of Seneca Falls," Town of Seneca Falls, www.senecafalls.gov/

"Women's Rights Convention Begins At Seneca Falls, July 19, 1848," JFK+50, July 19,2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

 

 

Portrait Monument

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott

& Susan B. Anthony

U.S. Capitol Rotunda

Photo by DawesDigital (2014)

 

WOMAN TO GRACE $10 BILL IN 2020

WOMAN WILL GRACE $10 BILL ON 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ADOPTION OF 19TH AMENDMENT

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Ninety-five years ago today, August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing the right to vote for women became the law of the land as Tennessee's ratification resulted in the necessary two-thirds, or 36 of 48, of the states to approve.  The year 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of that adoption.

According to UPI, one of the leaders, or suffragettes, of the movement to grant women the right to vote nationwide "could land on the upcoming redesign of the $10 bill."

In June 2015, the Treasury Department announced that on the 100th Anniversary of the adoption  of the 19th Amendment, "a historic female will grace the $10."  Currently, the first Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, is depicted on the bill.

UPI speculates that the choice to replace Hamilton could be Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony or Alice Paul.  Others mentioned as possibilities include Harriett Tubman and Eleanor Roosevelt.

The women's suffrage movement can be traced back to the Seneca Falls Convention held in New York state in 1848.

Whether the choice is a suffragette or otherwise, whoever is selected will become "the first female featured on U.S. paper currency in more than 100 years."

SOURCE

"Passing of 19th Amendment 95 years ago could land suffragette on $10 bill," by Danielle Haynes, UPI, August 18, 2015, www.upi.com/

The Woman Suffrage Memorial*

Market Square

Knoxville, Tennessee

Photo by John White (2008)

*The Woman Suffrage Memorial was dedicated August 26, 2006 by the Suffrage Coalition.  It was created by Alan LeQuire who is best known for his Athena Parthenos in the Parthenon located in Nashville. The Memorial features three leaders of the woman suffrage movement in Tennessee representing the three major divisions of the state:

Lizzie Crozier French of Knoxville 

Anne Dallas Dudley of Nashville

Elizabeth Avery Meriwether of Memphis 

PRESIDENT WASHINGTON SIGNS JAY'S TREATY 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President George Washington signed a treaty with Great Britain 220 years ago today, August 18, 1795, negotiated by Chief Justice John Jay of New York.

The treaty pledged to establish peaceful trade relationship between Great Britain and the United States as well as settling some leftover issues from the War for Independence.

The treaty was officially called the "Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation between His British Majesty and the United States of America".

Jay's Treaty was opposed by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and their supporters.  They saw closer ties between Britain and the United States as detrimental to republicanism.

Jay's Treaty