Prairie women were the first to achieve [the vote in Canada], setting a precedent for momentous change that would sweep the nation and the world. Each individual activist - Cora Hind, Nellie McClung, and Francis Beynon among many more - took a crucial step towards bridging the gap between men and women. However, the success of individual suffragettes was contingent upon three broader, societal factors. First, economic integration created the female middle class: women who were financially secure and now longed for political freedoms were attracted to the movement… Second, women stood in solidarity as members of large coalitions, raising awareness and lobbying for legislative change. Finally, these coalitions tapped into wider social support networks by aligning themselves with… popular[…] movements.