Women's Political Movement in 1920
During First World War, many women participated in organizations outside the home. These organizations fought for improvements in society to accommodate for the female community; Prohibition, educational facilities, protection of women’s property rights and child welfare were some of the rights that the women’s were fighting for. Women also campaigned to win the franchise for women’s political rights. By 1919, many Canadian Provinces allowed women to vote and hold elected office. However, it was in 1920, that the federal government amended the act and granted the right for both women and men to vote in federal elections in Canada. The Dominion Election act also allowed women to run for the election to the federal parliament. In 1925, the federal Divorce act was changed to permit women the same right to a divorce as a man. Women currently get equal amount of rights compared to Men. In the early 1920’s the famous five wanted the Supreme Court of Canada to define “persons” to include women. After a long court appeal, in 1928, they were ruled that women do not fit the definition of a person. However, in 1929, the judicial committee of the Privy Council in England over ruled the Supreme Court ruling and stated that women the description of “person”. (Freeman-shaw, and Haskings-Winner 34)
The main mile stone in the History of Canadian Women and Canadian female rights is the Persons Case. The BNA (British North America Act) of 1867 provided Canada with its governing principles. The BNA act set out the rules for the government of the new federal nation. It established a British style parliament with a house of commons, a senate and set out division of powers within provinces. The BNA act used the work “person” to refer to more than one person and “he” to refer to one individual. According to the text, women were not included in the definition of “person” in the BNA act of 1867. This issue was brought to life when Emily Murphy (first police magistrate in Alberta in 1916) was appointed as a police magistrate in Alberta in 1916. Her appointment challenged that women were not persons under the BNA act and therefore could not hold public office. In 1917, the Alberta Supreme court ruled that women were persons. That ruling was only directed within the province of Alberta and was not recognized nationally. Emily Murphy allowed her name to be put forward as a candidate for the Senate. Although this was denied and declined by the federal government, women were considered persons in the province of Alberta. By early 1920’s, many women groups were trying to have a women appointed to the senate. By this time, Emily Murphy and 4 other women were trying to have the definition of “person” to define women. This group and movement were called the famous five or the valiant five. (Freeman-shaw, and Haskings-Winner 31)
Within the “person’s” case, the two main sides where the famous five and the Supreme Court of Canada along with the government. Today I will be talking about the arguments brought in by each side.
The main mile stone in the History of Canadian Women and Canadian female rights is the Persons Case. The BNA (British North America Act) of 1867 provided Canada with its governing principles. The BNA act set out the rules for the government of the new federal nation. It established a British style parliament with a house of commons, a senate and set out division of powers within provinces. The BNA act used the work “person” to refer to more than one person and “he” to refer to one individual. According to the text, women were not included in the definition of “person” in the BNA act of 1867. This issue was brought to life when Emily Murphy (first police magistrate in Alberta in 1916) was appointed as a police magistrate in Alberta in 1916. Her appointment challenged that women were not persons under the BNA act and therefore could not hold public office. In 1917, the Alberta Supreme court ruled that women were persons. That ruling was only directed within the province of Alberta and was not recognized nationally. Emily Murphy allowed her name to be put forward as a candidate for the Senate. Although this was denied and declined by the federal government, women were considered persons in the province of Alberta. By early 1920’s, many women groups were trying to have a women appointed to the senate. By this time, Emily Murphy and 4 other women were trying to have the definition of “person” to define women. This group and movement were called the famous five or the valiant five. (Freeman-shaw, and Haskings-Winner 31)
Within the “person’s” case, the two main sides where the famous five and the Supreme Court of Canada along with the government. Today I will be talking about the arguments brought in by each side.