History 260 Class Notes

  • History 260: Canadian Women's History (1919 to Present)

    • Focus of Class 3: "Getting the Vote: A Review of Uneven Suffrage Victories"

  • Class 3 Outline

    • Discusses the foundational role of property in Canada
    • Examines societal views of women in European contexts
    • Explores diverse experiences of women's suffrage in various contexts

  • Property as Foundational to Canada

    • Initial goals for Northern North America focused on land control for resource extraction (1600s onward)
    • Resources: Logging, Fur trade
    • British Understanding of Property
    • Ownership established via written legal contracts
    • Landowners entitled to resources and compensation for resource harvesting
    • Agreements (e.g., treaties) made with Indigenous peoples
    • Indigenous people often compensated inequitable amounts for land use

  • British North America Act of 1867

    • Prioritized control for British, Protestant, wealthy men
    • Inheritance laws favored the eldest son, ensuring property remained with wealthy families
    • Impact on Voting Rights:
    • Only male British subjects aged 21 and older who owned property could vote

  • Women and Property Ownership

    • Under British Common Law, married women could not own property (Doctrine of Coverture)
    • All assets transferred to the husband
    • Married women prohibited from making legal contracts

  • Cultural Norms: "Angel of the House"

    • Societal ideal for women: Pious, Pure, Submissive, Domestic
    • Reality: Women worked outside of home, especially in rural settings
    • Racialized and ethnic minority women held jobs as housekeepers and nannies

  • International Suffrage Movement

    • Accessible print media in the 1800s allowed for the spread of suffrage news
    • Canadian Suffrage: Influences from various regions and identities

  • Influence of American Suffrage Movement

    • Activists like Mary Ann Shadd influenced Canadian discussions on suffrage and abolition
    • Dr. Emily Stowe’s role in Toronto Women’s Suffrage Association

  • Suffrage and Land Issues

    • Farming women lacked legal rights to businesses and homes due to laws like the Dominion Lands Act (1872)
    • Violet McNaughton: Founded Women’s Grain Grower’s Association
    • Nellie McClung: Utilized humor and performance to influence politics

  • Social Reform and Suffrage

    • Response to poverty and health issues during rapid industrialization
    • The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) combined temperance efforts with suffrage advocacy
    • Used maternalism to argue for women’s roles in society

  • Challenges of Social Reform

    • Some suffragists prioritized certain racial and class identities, marginalizing others
    • Issues of eugenics and forced sterilization targeted Indigenous and marginalized populations

  • World War I Impact

    • Suffrage movement affected by wartime needs; opinions divided among women
    • Wartime Elections Act (1917) extended the vote to some women, strategically enhancing Borden's support
    • Post-WWI Developments:
    • Extension of voting rights to white women in 1918
    • Continued exclusion of Indigenous and racialized communities

  • Indigenous Rights and Voting

    • Voting tied to the Indian Act and citizenship issues
    • Indigenous activism prioritized treaty rights and identity issues
    • Enfranchisement for Indigenous peoples came in 1960

  • Asian Canadians and Voting Rights

    • Disenfranchisement began in the late 1800s, reflecting racial attitudes
    • Activism for rights emerged in the 1930s, leading to enfranchisement after WWII

  • Conclusions from Class 3

    • Property remains a fundamental aspect of Canadian history and women's suffrage
    • Diverse experiences of suffrage reflect broader societal inequities and contexts
    • Contemporary discussions on women's rights build upon historical suffrage activism