WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT

Women’s Rights during the early 1900s

BEGINNINGS OF SOCIAL REFORM

With the growth of cities and industries brought great changes to Canadian life.

• In the cities, various organizations brought a spirit of social reform.• Improvements to living and working conditions; urban planning (cleaner water, parks,

stately boulevards and public transportation)• Many of these improvements made cities more attractive places for the wealthy and

middle classes; they did little to help the poor.

Many reformers in the early 1900s did not believe that higher wages would solve the problems of poverty.

• Believed the root of social evil was alcohol• Going to the bar was often the only recreation workers had; alcohol was cheap; and

it was where many collected their paychecks. • Women‘s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was formed in 1885 and when their

work to get people to stop drinking didn’t result too much, they began to petition the government to bring in Prohibition.

Women’s suffrages come to the forefront in the Laurier era.• These women were devoted to social reform, and trying to get

the right to vote.

Suffragists were also known as “maternal feminists” because they believed that the skills of wives and mothers would bring a fresh, companionate perspective to a male-dominated government.

• They believed that female influence could change laws to improve the lives of women and children.

The suffragist movement was a worldwide movement, but Canadian women generally were a bit more peaceful.The campaign was led by the Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association, which was supported by the National Council of Women of Canada, founded by Lady Aberdeen.

• She was the wife of the Governor General, and had great influence because of husband.

The earliest successes for the suffragist movement come on the prairies.Some believe it was a result of the hardships women went through in the west being right beside the men when settling and beginning a homestead.

• Prairie men were more incline to give the vote because they seen what the women had gone through, considered them more as equals as a result, and it was a way for the farmers of the west to increase the farm vote to influence provincial governments.

• The west was the first to grant women’s suffrage.

Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta were the first to grant to vote to women in 1916.In BC the fight for Suffrage was one that would last more than 45 years.

• 1871, American suffragist Susan B. Anthony visited Victoria and spoke for women’s rights.• Following year a bill was proposed and turned down.

• 1873, women had property had the right to vote in municipal elections.• 1899, another suffrage bill was shot down in legislature, but this time only by

a vote of 15-17.• 1912, suffrage was a part of the Liberal campaign in BC.• 1916, a referendum was passed on the issue, and in 1917 BC granted women

the right to vote and hold political office.

Nelly McClung was a well know suffragist.• Campaigned for women’s rights.• Was instrumental in the famous ‘Person's Case’ which

saw Canadian women declared persons in 1929. • She helped put on a play called ‘The Women's

Parliament,’ a satire which turned the tables and poked fun at the dangers of giving men the right to vote.• This was instrumental in getting women the right to vote in

Manitoba first.Canada had the group known as the “famous five”.

• Nelly McClung, Emily Murphy, Henrietta Edwards, Louise McKinney, and Irene Parlby.

THE FAMOUS 5

A TIMELINE

Before 1867 it was generally considered inappropriate for women to vote

1867- It became official that women were not allowed in politics, which means they could not vote

1900- Dominion Elections Act – only people who can vote in provincial elections are allowed to vote in federal elections. Since women were not allowed to vote in any province they are not allowed to vote in federal elections.

1906- Dominion Elections Act- stated that “no woman, idiot or criminal shall vote”

1914- Nellie McClung’s Mock Parliament

1916- Women win the right to vote in provincial elections in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta

1917- Women win the right to vote in British Columbia and Ontario.

War-Time Elections Act- only women with close relatives fighting in war are allowed to vote. It was because of these women that the Prime Minister Borden was re-elected and able to conscript more Canadians into military service.

1918- Women win the right to vote in Nova Scotia.

An Act to Confer Electoral Franchise Upon Women- most women, in all provinces are granted the right to vote in federal elections. Aboriginal women and some minority women (ie Chinese women) were not included and still could not vote.

1920- women win the right to vote in New Brunswick.

1922- women win the right to vote in Prince Edward Island.

1925- women win the right to vote in Newfoundland and Labrador

1929- The Person’s Case- The British Privy council disagrees with the Supreme Court of Canada and allows women to be appointed to the senate.

1940- women win the right to vote in Quebec

1960- The Canadian Bill of Rights- all Canadian women, of all racial, ethnic, religious backgrounds are given the right to vote in federal elections.