175th Anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention

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

Held from July 19th to July 20th, 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention was a consequential event in the history of women's rights in the United States. The meeting took place in Seneca Falls, New York at the Wesleyan Chapel. The event was planned by 5 women and attended by 300 including women’s rights leaders, abolitionists, and other 19th century reformers.

On each day of the convention, the Declaration of Sentiments was read to the assembly which described in detail the ways that the current laws failed to protect women’s rights, their safety, and their potential. The Declaration was signed by 100 of the attendees acknowledging their agreement with the 16 grievances listed. On the last day of the convention the attendees voted to accept 11 resolutions committing to a set of principles and actions to change the way that women were treated under the law. The convention also inspired many women to become activists for women's rights during the 1960s and 1970s liberation movement.

Decades later in 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment passed granting women the right to vote. The Seneca Falls Convention is known for laying the foundation for this legislation.

Additional Resources on GovInfo

• S. Doc. 117-12 - Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation - 2022
popularly known as the Constitution Annotated, encompasses the U.S. Constitution and analysis and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution with in-text annotations of cases decided by the Supreme Court of the United States. The Constitution Annotated is available on GovInfo back to the 1992 edition.
• Read commemorations, honors, and tributes related to the Seneca Falls Convention in the Congressional Record and Congressional Record Bound Edition collections.
• 112 Stat. 3196 - Women's Progress Commemoration Act To establish a commission, in honor of the 150th Anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention, to further protect sites of importance in the historic efforts to secure equal rights for women
• 34 WCPD 2211 - Statement on Signing the Women's Progress Commemoration Act, October 31, 1998 President William J. Clinton
• S. Rept. 105-395 - WOMEN'S RIGHTS NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL ACT OF 1998
• DCPD-201600239 - Proclamation 9423 Establishment of the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument
• Check out other featured articles on GovInfo related to the Women's Rights Movement
  • 100th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote
  • 45th Anniversary of Women Admitted to West Point
  • Anniversary of the First American Woman to Fly in Space
  • 100th Anniversary of the First Woman to Serve in the United States Congress
  • Susan B. Anthony, Icon of the Women's Suffrage Movement

• Purchase a printed copy of the Pocket Constitution and Declaration of Independence from GPO's online bookstore.
• Join the National Park Service as they commemorate the 175th anniversary of the 1848 Women's Rights Convention.
• Explore the Library of Congress exhibit “Shall Not Be Denied, Women Fight for the Vote”.
• 'Seneca Falls and Building a Movement, 1776-1890, Library of Congress”
• Today in History - July 19 "The Seneca Falls Convention", Library of Congress
• 7 Early Poetry and Speeches at Seneca Falls, Narrated by Julia Whelan, National Endowment for the Arts