Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement

Arrived on time as described

Professor of History Sally G. McMillen presents Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement, a scholarly historical examination of the 1848 Seneca Falls convention that would catapult the women's rights movement forward and forever change the course of history. Revealing the true stories behind four extraordinary individuals key to the movement - Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, and Susan B. Anthony - Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement shows how the then-radical ideas of greater legal rights for women, greater educational opportunities, full equality with men, and the right to vote were boldly advanced despite powerful social pressures in direct opposition. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrates this absolute "must-have" for women's studies shelves.

At first I was weary of this novel--I often find myself disappointed by books my Professors instruct me to read. It didn't take long for the author to convince me my doubts were miss placed. The information was presented in a reader friendly manner that didn't sacrifice information. I found myself truly impressed by the amount of work that must have gone into writing such a detailed description of a historical event that began a movement. By reading this book I began to get an appreciation of the struggle for woman's rights--a struggle only briefly mentioned in history text books and glanced over by most of my previous teachers, who often focused on dead white men and glorious battles. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the History of America, especially that of a woman's history.

What timing! Events in the lives of the four bright and strong-willed nineteenth century women highlighted in this book have heightened relevance in the current presidential election campaign. In both periods competing interests of minorities create potential conflict. The way that Professor McMillen intricately wove the events leading up to and following the Seneca Falls Convention into the fabric of everyday life was brilliant. For the first time I began to understand: Why in the world did it take 72 years from Seneca Falls in 1848 to 1920 to pass the amendment giving women the right to vote? McMillen provided precious details about the human goings-on and the interpersonal relationships that explain the sputtering, two-steps-forward, one-step-back movement. History often seems so top-down and conceptual, but this book reminds one of the significance of those day-to-day small steps. The Seneca Falls convention may have been the catalyst for a pivotal moment in womens rights, but McMillen allowed the individual personalities throughout the period to shine. .

This is a wonderful book. Although I studied feminist history in college and have been familiar with the names and deeds of the four women featured in "Seneca Falls..." for years, it wasn't until reading this book that these women became human to me. The author does a stunning job of bringing them and their individual and collective struggles to life in a wonderfully engaging, accessible way. What an extraordinary story of patience and deep-seated belief in the possibility of change - a timely, inspiring message I'm very glad to have stumbled upon.

This is a book that anyone with an interest in women's rights should read. It is just one more example of what a great historical author McMillen is. It is particularly timely in light of the current presidential election. McMillen's use of primary sources and her meticulous research gives the reader a stong understanding of the struggle that women went through to get the right to vote.