Identifying the main idea helps you understand historical concepts and why historical events unfold. To identify the main idea in a reading, identify the purpose of the passage and look for ways important details relate to each other. Use the passage below from the "Declaration of Sentiments" at the Seneca Falls Convention outlining the rights that American women should be entitled to as citizens.
He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice.
He has withheld her from rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men—both natives and foreigners.
Having deprived her of this first right as a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides.
He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.
He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns.
He has made her morally, an irresponsible being, as she can commit many crimes with impunity, provided they be done in the presence of her husband. In the covenant of marriage, she is compelled to promise obedience to her husband, he becoming, to all intents and purposes, her master—the law giving him power to deprive her of her liberty, and to administer chastisement.
He has so framed the laws of divorce, as to what shall be the proper causes of divorce, in case of separation, to whom the guardianship of the children shall be given; as to be wholly regardless of the happiness of the women—the law, in all cases, going upon a false supposition of the supremacy of a man, and giving all power into his hands.
After depriving her of all rights as a married woman, if single and the owner of property, he has taxed her to support a government which recognizes her only when her property can be made profitable to it.
He has monopolized nearly all the profitable employments, and from those she is permitted to follow, she receives but a scanty remuneration.
He closes against her all the avenues to wealth and distinction, which he considers most honorable to himself. As a teacher of theology, medicine, or law, she is not known.
He has denied her the facilities for obtaining a thorough education—all colleges being closed against her.
He allows her in church, as well as State, but a subordinate position, claiming Apostolic authority for her exclusion from the ministry, and, with some exceptions, from any public participation in the affairs of the Church.
He has created a false public sentiment by giving to the world a different code of morals for men and women, by which moral delinquencies which exclude women from society, are not only tolerated but deemed of little account in man.
He has usurped the prerogative of Jehovah himself, claiming it as his right to assign for her a sphere of action, when that belongs to her conscience and her God.
He has endeavored, in every way that he could to destroy her confidence in her own powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life.
Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country, their social and religious degradation—in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of these United States.
In entering upon the great work before us, we anticipate no small amount of misconception, misrepresentation, and ridicule; but we shall use every instrumentality within our power to effect our object. We shall employ agents, circulate tracts, petition the State and national Legislatures, and endeavor to enlist the pulpit and the press in our behalf. We hope this Convention will be followed by a series of Conventions, embracing every part of the country.
What is the main idea of this passage from the "Declaration of Sentiments"?
According to the passage, what is the woman’s place in a marriage in 1848?
What is a woman’s place in the workplace in 1848?
What does the author of this passage hope to accomplish for women?
Does the writer expect women to achieve their goal easily? Use information from the passage to support your answer.
| Your Responses | Sample Answers |
|---|---|
| Responses should include the idea that some Americans felt oppressed and angry because they were denied rights as the result of unjust laws and rules made by men. | |
| She is totally under the control of her husband during marriage; the passage refers to a husband as a master. | |
| There were a very limited number of work opportunities for women, and women were paid very little for the jobs they were allowed to hold. Women were also denied admission to college, which limited their educational and professional options. | |
| She wants to have rights equal to those of men, which she says are due to women as citizens of the United States. | |
| No, the author of the passage writes that she expects to be ridiculed. Students should also infer that men who control the vote as well as access to education and jobs would not give up their power over women without a struggle. | |
