State Laws

The United States did not unify on Woman's Rights Laws all at once, (according to the region or state, women had different rights than others). However judicial discretion and the use of a common standard did bring some laws to uniform closure. Women would benefit from unified government and rights.
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A symbol of justice
"Southern legislators enacted narrow reforms in attempt to soften the effects of an economic panic while Northern states' reform was more dramatic because of influence of the women's rights movement." -Sara L. Zeigler

Married Women's Property Act: New York 1848

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  • upon divorce, women have the right to own property that they obtained during marriage
  •  with this law, married women were given the same rights over their property that unmarried women have

Louisiana Passes Laws and the Country follows: 1850's

Louisiana entitled a woman to:
  • a portion of her and her husbands property
  • existence in the legal world
Other states allowed for similar actions soon afterwards

Wisconsin Legislature: 1855

  • Began passing acts which empower women
  • For example: if a woman's husband is habitually drunk or deserts his wife, she is entitled to a divorce and can have her own life
States also began to outlaw and disgrace actions such as beating your wife