" 'Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.' This is the fundamental principle of democracy….The political and civil rights of every citizen must be practically established …. It is not because women suffer, it is not because slaves suffer….it is the simple assertion of the great fundamental truth of democracy that was proclaimed by our Revolutionary fathers."
Susan B. Anthony to the founding convention of the Woman's National Loyal League

The Civil War brought an end to the annual Woman's Rights Conventions, as women turned their hands to support emancipation and the northern war effort. In 1862, New York repealed most of the 1860 reform bill. The bill's author rebuked Susan B. Anthony: "Strange that you women, so watchful and so regardful of your rights should have allowed the repeal of those important sections, without strenuous opposition."
Anthony was "sick at heart", but could not convince Stanton, Mott, and others to continue to hold conventions and petition for women's rights in the heat of the Civil War.

In June, 1862, Elizabeth Cady Stanton moved to New York, N.Y. In 1863, she and Anthony, on behalf of the Woman's Central Committee, sent out a call to the "Loyal Women of the Nation" to meet in an organizing convention. Held exactly three years after the last national women's rights convention, its officers and members of the business committee included Stanton, Martha Wright and Amy Post along with Antoinette Brown Blackwell, Ernestine Rose, Lucy Stone, Angelina Grimke Weld, and other familiar names from previous women's rights conventions. By 1864, Woman's National Loyal League members gathered 400,000 signatures on a petition to Congress to end slavery, resulting in the passage of the 13th Amendment.

Resolutions presented to the convention applauded Lincoln's partial emancipation of slaves, urged complete emancipation and fair and equal treatment of former slaves, and pledged women's support to the northern army. The final resolution stated that, "There never can be a true peace in this Republic until the civil and political rights of all citizens of African descent and all women are practically established." During "spirited" debate, some argued that women's rights was too controversial and would hinder the effort to free the slaves and support the war. Sarah Hallock stated that, "It may possibly be woman's place to suffer. At any rate, let her suffer, if….mankind may suffer less," to which a voice in the audience replied, "You are too self-sacrificing." The resolution supporting women's rights was defeated.

National Women's Rights Conventions                                                       Exhibit Credits