mrpolsky

Famous Five Information Grade 5 Social Studies

The purpose of a woman’s life is just the same as the purpose of a man’s life: that she may make the best possible contribution to the generation in which she is living.

-Louise McKinney

     

Irene Parlby

1868-1965

Emily Murphy

1868-1933

Louise McKinney, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Edwards, Irene Parlby and Emily Murphy were five women that changed Canadian history. They disagreed with how women were treated so they spoke up, argued and peacefully convinced the government that things were not fair. Without them, Canada would be much different than it is today.

Louise McKinney, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Edwards, Irene Parlby and Emily Murphy were five women that changed Canadian history. They disagreed with how women were treated so they spoke up, argued and peacefully convinced the country that things were not fair. Without them, Canada would be much different than it is today.

Achievements

Female Suffrage  |  The Persons Case  |  Other Causes  |  Leadership

I know it sounds crazy but before 1929, according to Canadian law, women were considered to be “non-persons.” When women wanted to join the Senate, five different governments said they couldn’t because they weren’t “persons”. On October 18, 1929, the Famous Five won their court case - now known as “The Persons Case” - and women were officially declared to be persons. This seems crazy today but without the Famous Five, this would never have changed.



The Cause   |   The Disappointment   |   The Victory   |   The Reactions & Effects