How Women Won the Vote in Manitoba

On January 27th, 1914, when the then premier, Sir Rodmond Roblin, was asked to give women the “simple justice” of suffrage, he replied by stating that women’s suffrage “would be a retrograde movement ... [and] it will break up the home.” Two years later, on January 28th, 1916, the women of Manitoba became the first to achieve the right to vote at the provincial level. Although there were many contributing factors, the three most critical were suffragist’s presence in current publishings, the persistence of suffragist Nellie McClung, and the dedication of many organizations such as the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, the Political Equality League, and Tobias Norris’ Liberal Party.
 
How Women Won the Vote in Manitoba

Jess Muir

Grade 10

West Vancouver Secondary School
West Vancouver, British Columbia

As a youth, I couldn't vote in the recent election. I chose this topic to see how people in a different era felt about being unable to vote.

Related Essays

  • A Pivotal Achievement in a Long­-Running Struggle

    A Pivotal Achievement in a Long­-Running Struggle

    Lily de Loë

    Guelph, Ontario

    I enjoy reading 19th and 20th century literature; I always find the societal differences between present day and those eras to be striking.

  • The Vote: Women's Fight to Rights

    The Vote: Women's Fight to Rights

    Riva Patel

    Markham, Ontario

    I would have to say The Person's Case is my favourite part of Canadian History. As a Canadian female, that case resides close to my heart.

 
View all essays