Photo by Jo Szczepanska on Unsplash

Emma Lea Marelli and Kelsey Stewart and I did a group scavenger hunt based on age as a category of analysis.

“Our interpretation of education through the two articles is social concern to social control. Initially, their concern was the overall nation needing a unified loyalty to the British Crown to guarantee loyal and rule abiding citizens. This goal was believed to be attainable by moulding youth through censoring public literature…”

We believed it was:
– Collective Vs. Individual
– Social Control to social concern
– Manipulation of education

Here is our final description of our chosen primary source:

“Although we found it harder to find a primary source that reflected age as a category, and that related to Canada, eventually our group stumbled upon a document that appears to be a notice posted for the purpose of advising citizens of the requirements of those eligible to vote in Upper Canada during this time period. This document was found on Library and Archives Canada, which allowed us to trust the source and come to the agreement that it is a reliable source that represents age as a category.
This document refers to the requirements needed for an Upper Canadian citizen to vote under the Act of 1849. The notice states that one must be “a male subject of Her Majesty”, “by birth of naturalization” and of “full age of 21 years” to vote. These requirements represent how age is a category in government processes. The specific age eligibility relates to social, political and cultural factors. Due to the important role that voting plays within the political sphere, the government wants to ensure that voters are mature enough to place an educated vote. This shows how the government believes that by the age of 21, only the male citizen is mature enough and has enough political knowledge to be involved in political matters. This also relates to Canada’s culture by enforcing the age 21, as it shows society’s belief that one transfers from a citizen unable to be involved in government issues to being old enough to be provided the right to vote.
Additionally, not only does the source display restrictions through gender and age, but also through class. The document displays three categories: First class freeholders, second class tenants, third class occupants. Like Age as a category of analysis, the source presents a hierarchical structure, each ‘class’ having its own description on who can vote and so forth.
In conclusion, we believe this primary source shows how Upper Canada interpreted age and maturity of their citizens during this time period; thus, demonstrating age as a category of suitability to have a political input.”