Nellie McClung: Political Activist

The reason for this topic is to find out more about the great achievements Nellie McClung had in her life. She “fought for women’s suffrage in 1951.” Nellie Mooney was born in 1873 in Ontario, Canada. Nellie began her social life at the earl life of sixteen, when she a joined a Christian group instrumental in helping those who were alcoholics. The group was popularly known as the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). In 1896 she married Wesley McClung and started a family. Now Nellie McClung continued associating herself with social reform movements. She helped establish the Women’s Equity League (WEL) in Manitoba, which and other Women’s Suffrage movements. WEL was one of the first women’s groups to fight for the right of women to vote. (Staff, McF, 2014) Nellie Mooney began her schooling at the age of 10 years old. Later at about the age of 16 she received her teaching certificate, which was second-class. She met one of her lifelong friends during this time, Cora Hind. Nellie and Nora would later work together in the Women’s Suffrage movement later in life. In 1893 she attended the Winnipeg College. While attending Winnipeg College she taught for a short span in Treherne. It was four years later that she joined the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. McClung later admitted that it was thru the inspiration of her husband’s Mother that she began her writing career. At the time Mrs. J.A. McClung recommended that Nellie submit a written article to be published by Colliers. (McF, Highlights) Besides her teaching, her activist role in suffrage groups for women and later her political involvement in the Canadian Government, Nellie McClung was influential as a writer as well.