Throughout history, Americans have fought for the rights of freedom in their country, freedoms that have been passed down through dozens of generations. The freedoms are religion, speech, the press, slavery, and the right to vote. Americans, while very aware of their freedoms, often take them for granted and forget the struggles their ancestors went through to obtain them. An example of this struggle is the right of women to be treated and considered equal by the government. It was not an easy battle to win, and it took a few strong people to begin to end the struggle that women had faced for centuries. The need for women's rights began in colonial America, where women were called “inferior beings.” ”. This era, while not particularly known for its feminist movements, contained people like Margaret Brent, who was a wealthy landowner in Maryland and was a strong, but unsuccessful, voice in securing a place for women in the legislature of colony. It was also a time when Quakers and many other individuals, such as the famous American patriot Thomas Paine, supported women's rights, but at the time this was not enough to make a significant difference and it was not until the 19th century that women would had a real chance to make a difference. One of the major leaders of the women's rights movement was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, born in Jamestown, New York, on November 12, 1815 into a strict Presbyterian family. She attended Johnstown Academy, where only boys were admitted, but because of her sex she could not attend colleges that offered higher degrees, so she was accepted into Emma Willard's academy in Troy, New York, where she graduated in 1832. After graduation studied law. with her father, Judge Daniel Cady, but was not admitted to the bar, again because of her sex. On May 10, 1840, Elizabeth Cady was married to Henry Brewster Stanton, but when they took their vows, Elizabeth made no vow to "obey" her husband. Henry and Elizabeth had seven children together. That same year, the couple attended an anti-slavery convention, where Elizabeth along with seven other female delegates were denied the right to take part in the convention. Stanton along with fellow American feminist, Lucretia Coffin Mott, were placed... at the center of the paper... efforts to make themselves and those of their sex equal worked, Stanton, Anthony among others, continued to speak and write about what they believed was right and in 1919 the 19th Amendment was added which guaranteed all citizens the right to vote, regardless of gender. The amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920. In conclusion, the women who organized the First Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, in those historic July days, and those who inspired them, are true pioneers. They have started a wave for more women and men to continue to fight for what they believe in and to change things if they think they are wrong. These were the people who made America what it is today, gave them freedom and all Americans should be grateful for that. Works CitedBanner, Lois W. “Women Suffrage.” New Encyclopedia of Funk and Wagnall. OCLC 2004. January 4, 2004Gottshall, Jon. “Seneca Falls, New York: The First Women's Rights Convention, July 19 and 20, 1848.” December 31, 2003 “Stanton, Elizabeth Stanton.” American Encyclopedia. Grolier Online 2004. December 31, 2003 http://public1.hccc.suny.edu:2128/ea-ol/static/0000013.html