History Unit 2: The "Persons" Case

Question 1

What was it like for women in the 20

Answer 1

• women made notable gains during the world war only to face adversity and setbacks in the twenties
• women urged to stay home and become wives and mothers
• domestic work was considerable and without direct financial reward
• in many cases women had to engage in part time work to make ends meet
• on farms, women responsibilities were difficult; in addition to housework; women were expected to help in physically demanding labour

Question 2

What was women employments

Answer 2

• if employment was nessassary; women encourage to pursue training for carriers such as secretaries, teachers, nurses and librarians.
  
  • > women began to move into ‘male professions’
  • > some became doctors, lawyers and uni professors, scientist, and engineers
• emphasize these accomplishments but vast were denied entry into most fields

Question 3

1920

Answer 3

• women continued a strong advocate for their fundamental rights. Ex. Voting
• organizations (NCWC, WCTA…) work to enhance the women in Canadian society
• women increasly engage on the political front
• in 1921, Agnes mcphail was elected as the first female member of parliament
  
  • > encountered skeptism and resistance along the way
  • > advocated for prison reform, family allowances, old age pension and unemployment insurance
  • > women soon followed and were successfully elected to provincial legislate

Question 4

Who is Irene parlby

Answer 4

• women in Alberta; lobbied for issues as minimum wage for women, women property rights, children welfare -> many legislated into law now

Question 5

What is the persons case

Answer 5

• landmark decision in women’s right
• 1919 federal women institution of Canada past a resolution urging the prime minister to appoint a female senator
• prime minister aunt hour meighen and William Lyon Mackenzie King refused saying in the British North American act women were not considered person and therefor could not be appointed

Question 6

8 yrs later what happened for the fight to appoint a female senator

Answer 6

• emily Murphy led a group of five prominent female activist
  
  • > petitioned the government to direct supreme court to rule on weather the concept of “qualified person” of BNAA could include women
  • > Henrietta Muir Edwards who petitioned the government to direct Supreme Court to rule whether the concept of “qualified persons” in section 24 of the BNAA could include women

Question 7

What was the ruling?

Answer 7

1928; Supreme Court ruled that women did not meet the standards of “qualified person”

• following the decision the group known as the famous five successfully appealed the ruling to the judicial committee of the privy council of England, the highest court of appeal in the British empire
• oct 18, 1929; judicial committee reversed the Canadian Supreme Court decision ruling that women were indeed persons and therefor could be appointed senator

Question 8

In the decision what did the judicial committee say?

Answer 8

• basically said the not allowing women in office is past times way mor barbarous then now. People who ask why the word person should include females the answer should be why not.

Question 9

Who is Canada first female senator

Answer 9

Cairine Wilson

Question 10

Who is Canada first member of parliament

Answer 10

Agnes macphail