Timeline

1815  Elizabeth Cady Stanton is born to Judge Daniel Cady and Margaret Livingston of Johnstown, N.Y.

1826  Elizabeth’s brother Eleazer dies

1831  After attending Johnstown Academy, which is co-educational, she completes her education at Emma Willard’s Troy Female Seminary.

1840  Marries Henry Brewster Stanton

1840  Metts Lucretia Mott in London at the first World’s Anti-Slavery Convention

1842  Gives birth to first child, Daniel Cady Stanton. Between the years 1842-1859, Elizabeth and Henry have seven children- five sons and two daughters- Daniel Cady, Harry B., Gerrit Smith, Theodore Weld, Margaret Livingston, Harriot Eaton, Robert Livingston (in birth order)

1847  The Stanton’s move to Seneca Falls, New York

1848  Plans the first woman’s rights convention with Lucretia Mott, Martha Coffin Wright, Mary Ann McClintock, and Jane Hunt.

1848  Writes the Declaration of Sentiments and reads the declaration at the Seneca Fall’s convention.  She demands the vote for women.

1851  Meets Susan B. Anthony

1852 Elected president of the Women’s New York State Temperance Society

1854 At the age of 39-years-old, she addresses the New York legislature demanding women’s equal legal and civil rights in regards to the Married Woman’s Property Act

1861 Attends Anti-slavery meetings with Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott in New York

1862  Stanton family moves to New York City

1863  Creates the Women’s Loyal National League with Susan B. Anthony for the purpose of freeing slaves and empowering women

1865-1869  Opposes the exclusion of women’s rights in the 14th and 15th Amendments; many abolitionists and suffragists are alienated by her stance, including Fredrick Douglas.

1866 The American Equal Rights Association forms; Elizabeth serves as vice president and Lucretia Mott as president.

1867  Campaigns in Kansas with Anthony for woman and black male suffrage

1868  Starts the suffragist newspaper The Revolution with Susan B. Anthony

1868  Forms the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) with Susan B. Anthony

1869  Establishes a career in public speaking

1869  Along with Lucy Stone and other allies, forms the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA)

1870’s  Travels throughout the United State lecturing on woman’s rights; she earns money for the lectures using it to support her family.

1876  Writes the Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States for the U.S. Centennial celebration in Philadelphia, has to deliver a written copy of the speech after being denied the opportunity to join the Centennial ceremony.

1881  With Susan B. Anthony and Matilda Joslyn Gage as co-authors, publishes the first two volumes of The History of Woman Suffrage.

1886  Publishes the third volume of The History of Woman Suffrage

1887  While Elizabeth is in England visiting her daughter, Henry Stanton dies in New York.

1890  The National (NWSA) and the American (AWSA) Woman Suffrage Associations merge to form National American Woman Suffrage (NAWSA); Elizabeth Cady Stanton is elected its first resident

1892  Presidents The Solitude of Self to the House Committee on the Judiciary to the Senate Committee on Woman Suffrage

1892  Resigns as president of the NAWSA

1895  Tribute to Elizabeth Cady Stanton held at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City

1895  Publishes The Woman’s Bible

1898  Publishes her autobiography, Eighty Years and More

1902  Elizabeth Cady Stanton dies in New York City

1920  Congress ratifies the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.

“To throw obstacles in the way of a complete education is like putting out the eyes; to deny the rights of property is like cutting off the hands. To refuse political equality is to rob the ostracized of all self-respect, of credit in the market place, of recompense in the world of work, of a voice in choosing those who make and administer the law, a choice in the jury before whom they are tried, and in the judge who decides their punishment.”

— From “Solitude of Self”