Universal+Suffrage



**Universal suffrage** is when members of society reach the age of accountability, to have the right to fully participating in political events, such as the right to vote. Universal suffrage is an age (usually 18 or 21) that satisfies the requirements established by the law. [1]

==History == Universal suffrage was originally referring to only males to have the right to vote regardless of their status. The first system to claim universal suffrage, but was France in 1792 during the revolution, but it was only for males. Most countries followed Universal male only suffrage until 1944 when women obtained the right to vote in france. The first womens suffrage was in corsica in 1755 and lasted until 1769. [2]

[5]
 * 19th century || only men could vote ||
 * 1918 || Women started to vote but not all. ||
 * 1919 || Women were allowed to run for politcal office. ||
 * 1929 || Women are leagally "persons" and able to be appointed to political office. ||
 * 1948 || Canadians of Japanese, Chinese, South Asian decent are allowed to vote. ||
 * 1950 || Inuits gained the right to vote. ||
 * 1955 || Religious exclusion are removed. ||
 * 1960 || First nations people were allowed to vote. ||
 * 1970 || Voting age went from 21 to 18 ||
 * 1988 || People with mental disabilities are allowed to vote. ||
 * 2002 || Prison inmate are allowed to vote. ||

Canada obtained universal suffrage in 1920 for both sexs, exept for quebec and the first nations people. Quebec recived universal suffrage in 1940 and the first nations people recived it in 1960. [3]

=Quotes=

//"It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union..."// - Susan B Anthony [4]

//"Suffrage is the pivotal right."// - Susan B Anthony [4]

// "I hope this view of the question may be a mistaken one, because it does not seem to me very unlikely that the suffrage will be granted to women." // - John Bright [6]

=Classical Liberalism=

1867 to 1919, the classical idea of voting was a privilege,slowly the qualification was being eliminated therefore moving futher away from modern liberalism.In 1920 the gender qualification was eliminated by the Dominon Election Act allowed all citizens of European extraction, both men and women the right to vote. The non-European did not have the right to vote at that time. It was not until 1960 that the first nation people were allowed the right to vote. [5]