Most of the energy in the democratic "struggle" in Canada was spent on the expansion of the powers of the elected Assembly (called the House of Commons after Confederation in 1867). Little thought, or support, was given to the notion, which we take for granted today, that every adult - regardless of gender, ethnicity, wealth, etc. - should have the right to vote. Thus the spread of the franchise was a slow process that proceeded with little fanfare. There were few obvious "heroes" or leaders for the cause, as there were for responsible government (Baldwin and LaFontaine) or Confederation (Macdonald and Cartier). Instead it was left to the "disenfranchised" groups to lobby on their own behalf, sometimes through demonstrations and public education (see the next chapter for the story of women and the vote) and other times in the courts. Today, as a result, the right of every adult to vote is embedded in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.