female teachers, having paid for their education just as much as the males, obtained, when teaching, only half of the compensation granted to male teachers.
But the indignation of the two women over the inferior position of woman had been especially exited while attending the World's Anti-Slavery Convention, held in 1840 at London. Both women, together with Mrs. Wendell Phillips, had been appointed delegates by the abolitionists of America, and as they were able speakers, much had been expected from their eloquence. But when the women submitted their credentials, they discovered that the English abolitionists had not reformed their antiquated views of male predominance and would not admit any woman as delegate nor on the platform. When the question was submitted to vote, the women were excluded by a large majority. This flat refusal to recognize woman's right to an equal participation in all social, political, and religious affairs brought what is termed "the Woman Question" into greater prominence than ever before. The gathering in the Wesleyan chapel, at Seneca Falls, N. Y., Mrs. Stanton's home, is known as the First Woman's Rights Convention, Held on the 19th and 20th of July, 1848, it was attended by 68 women and 38 men. The simultaneous discussion of the subject of slavery and the natural rights of man had as their logical consequence, on the part of women, the demand of a privilege exercised in many cases by persons far below them in intelligence and education. They asserted that many of their number were taxpayers, that all were interested in good government, and that it would be unjust for women of intelligence to be deprived of a vote while ignorant negroes could have a voice in the government. Furthermore they asserted that the participation of women would have a purifying effect on politics.
At the close of the second day the convention adopted the following:
Declaration of Sentiments.
The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
"He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise.
"He has compelled her to submit to laws in the formation of which she had no voice.
"He has withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men—both natives and foreigners.
"Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the
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