The historical figure who played a central role in promoting civil rights and gender equality in the U.S. was Elizabeth Cady Stanton. A prominent suffragist and abolitionist, Stanton co-organized the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, where she presented the Declaration of Sentiments demanding equal rights for women, including the right to vote. Her advocacy laid the groundwork for the women's rights movement in the United States, emphasizing the need for social and political reform. Stanton's lifelong commitment to advocating for gender equality and her collaborations with other leaders, such as Susan B. Anthony, were instrumental in shaping the trajectory of feminism in America.