Elizabeth Cady Stanton was not only a mother, a daughter, a feminist, and a writer; but it was she who changed the lives of women around the world by fighting for equality. Stanton had a normal childhood, but one that motivated her to never lose hope of achieving her goal. A brief history of her life will help to better understand why she became such a powerful activist for women's rights. Also, what she accomplished that changed history and how it still affects us today in 2011. I will also express my individual satisfaction with what this incredible woman did for women around the world. On November 12, 1815, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born into the Cady family in Johnstown, New York (Gordon, 2009). She was born into a conservative, high-class aristocratic family that placed great importance on religion and aristocratic values. These ways of being raised affected Stanton as a child, causing strange dreams and fears of death. She also faced a gender issue within her family which may have sparked her activist ideas as an adult. Her parents preferred male children over girls and spent most of their married life trying to produce a male child. They managed to have one boy and four girls. However, in 1826, the greatest tragedy of Elizabeth's life occurred. His only brother had died and his parents were trying to find an heir for him. When another boy was born, he too died and his mother gave up completely. She was alienated by her mother and all childhood memories of her mother were negative. After this crisis, Stanton set his sights on matching all of his brother's achievements and playing the male role in his family. Author Lois Banner states that as a child, Cady Stanton was already a born leader in any group (Banner, 1980)....... middle of paper ...... great things to release women. The Seneca Falls Convention for women's suffrage, women's property status, and the separation of religion and politics may not have been accomplished without Stanton and his hard work. She is one of the most influential women to ever mark American history. She had such a positive influence on the lives of all women of her time and ours. Works Cited Banner, L. W. (1980). Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a radical for women's rights. Pennsylvania: Harper Collins Publishers. Davis, S. (2008). The Political Thought of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. New York and London: New York University Press. Gordon, A.D. (July 2009). The Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Papers Project. Retrieved March 16, 2011, from http://ecssba.rutgers.edu/resources/ecsbio.htmlMott, L. (1855, March 16). Letter to Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Philadelphia.