Absurdly Elderly Mother: Mrs. Foster is revealed to two twin daughters who are still in diapers, even though she seems old enough to be their grandmother (Ruth Foster was pushing sixty at the time this episode was aired).
Artistic License – History: The plot involves a campaign for equal property rights for married women. In real life, Minnesota already had property rights for married women as of 1869, and this episode is set in the 1880s.
Big Eater: Willie's part in the episode consists of him eating and drinking everything he can reach, including his father's meals. At one point, when Nels gets a glass of milk and finds it empty, he asks "Where does he put it all, my God?".
Conflict Ball: Probably for the first time in the series, Charles and Caroline have a serious argument, in this case over the former's refusal to sign the petition for equal property owner rights. She goes as far as to leave home as part of her movement to convince him and other men to sign their names.
A Day in Her Apron: As part of her strategy to get support for the petition, Caroline convinces various women to leave their houses and force their husbands to face their roles so that they understand why they deserve equal land ownership.
During the final reunion between the men whose wives left their homes to join the movement, one of them is seen advising Mr. Foster, who was having a hard time with his baby daughters' diapers, how to properly wash the diaper material, implying that he had some experience with diaper changing despite it not being a male role.
When a group of men tries to find someplace to have a meal since most of them can't cook, Reverend Alden is seen joining them, implying that Anna Craig, his new wife, also joined the movement despite her old age and barely being affected by what it proposed.
It Will Never Catch On: After the men decide to sign the petition and the women are shown leaving the hotel and rejoining them, Laura's narration tells that her mother commented that someday women could even be allowed to vote, which a skeptical Laura says she doubts so.
Jerkass Ball: While he isn't a jerk throughout the episode, Charles is the closest he ever got to being an antagonist; while he isn't the only man hesitant to sign the petition and he doesn't underestimate women in general (he sees the idea as a break of trust between the wife and husband because it gives the wife a chance to split the land), his insistence eventually alienates Caroline and inspires other men to not sign it either (Almanzo wouldn't mind signing it, but would rather not get in trouble with his work colleague and father-in-law). Indeed, it's not until he comes to understand why the petition was so important for the women in a matter of principles and expresses his decision to sign it that the other men change their mind.
Sweet Polly Oliver: Mrs. Oleson — at the other women's request — disguising herself as a male ranch hand to spy on the men at the Mercantile.
Tempting Fate: Charles states that the equal land ownership discussion will be over after Elizabeth Smith (the woman who brought the petition to Walnut Grove) is out of town... cue to Mrs. Foster having a heated argument with her husband and informing them that he'll be in charge of the post office and the kids while she joins the movement, which is now being led by Caroline and Mrs. Oleson.
Throw the Dog a Bone: Mrs. Oleson is given a rare true protagonist storyline here, as she organizes and leads the referendum for equal property ownership rights.
You Go, Girl!: For once, Mrs. Oleson is played sympathetically, as – despite her marriage being fair (even though she doesn't always believe it) – she is fighting for a noble cause for the benefit of all women, rather than to build herself up.
