(Banner, 24-26) .
The first women's rights convention was called in Seneca Falls, N.Y. in 1848. ("Stanton, Elizabeth Cady", par 1) A women's declaration of grievances was written using the Declaration of Independence as a model; Stanton even went so far as to substitute the words "King George" with "male." (Banner, 39) Some of the injustices against women that they addressed included: women had no legal right to their earnings or children; wives could not testify against their husbands in court; although single women could own property, they paid taxes on it without having the right to vote; women were expected and required to remain virgins and be faithful to their husbands, while when men strayed from their wives it was overlooked; except for Oberlin, women were not admitted to any liberal arts college; and women were excluded from most professions besides teaching school and writing. (Banner, 40) The document was called The Declaration of Sentiments, and is best known for its statement that "all men and women are created equal", and basic demands that women be allowed to own property, enter profession, and vote. (The American Pageant, 968).
A crowd of 300 were present at the convention, including 40 men, and on its second day, Stanton presented her declaration, as well as an unexpected demand for women's suffrage. (Banner, 42) All of the resolutions passed unanimously, excluding that of women's suffrage which passed with a weak majority vote. (Banner, 42).
Stanton met Susan B. Anthony, whom she would form a lifelong partner/friendship with, in 1851. (Foner, par 2) With the help of Anthony, Stanton was elected the president of the New York state's Women's Temperance Society in 1852. (Banner, 58) In 1853, Anthony addressed the New York legislature with an appeal written by Stanton, "advocating legislature to license and thus limit the number liquor outlets in the states or allow women to vote on such measures.