You must investigate Federation from the perspective of women living at that time and the effects Federation has had on Australian women. At the end of this section you will explain the significance of your role to the other members of your group.

Part One

Answer the following questions in order to explain the role that women played or didn't play in Federation. How could F-900 use the role that gender had to his advantage?

1. What were the reasons behind the argument for women getting the vote? What was the social environment of this time?
   
2. What were the reasons behind the argument against women getting the vote?
   
3. Who were the central figures that campaigned for women getting the vote? What were the reasons for their involvement in this campaign?
   
4. What changes have occurred as a result of women winning the vote?

Write a short poem or short story about the Women of Australia and how they were treated leading up to and after Federation!

Part Two

You are back at the time of Federation and have identified the ways in which the F-900 could sabotage history in your team's aspect. Could you change history in your team's aspect for the better? How? What issues would you address - economic or social inequality or both? Would you do it if you had the chance?

Explain your reasons, ideas and attitudes in a short (500 words) essay.

Part Three

Write down as many questions (and their answers) as you can about this aspect of Federation - they will be used in the next Challenge! Each of you will need to come up with at least 5 questions - a total of at least 20 questions.

DO NOT share these questions with ANYONE (except your group) - you don't know who are the F-900s!

You are to write up the questions and 3 possible answers (one being the correct one). 

Resources

• Stories of Democracy - Women's Vote
   
• Women, Power and the Public Sphere
   
• Australian Suffragettes
   
• University of Queensland: Women's Suffrage in Queensland: Main groups
   
• The History of Australian Federation & Democratic Rights of Women
   
• PL Duffy Resource Centre: Women's Suffrage: Hotlist
• Australian Dictionary of Biography: Scott, Rose (1847 - 1925)
   
• Reason in Revolt: Source Documents of Australian Radicalism: Woman Suffrage
   
• Taking Time - A Women's Historical Data Kit: 1834 - 1899
   
• The Women's Suffrage Movement: The timeline of women's achievements in Victoria: 1834 to 1899
   
• Women's Suffrage
   
• The Constitutional Centre of Western Australia: With a Vote of Her Own PDF
   
• Eight Hour Day: Children
   
• Eight Hour Day: Domestic Service
   
• Eight Hour Day: Factory Girls and 'Sweaters'