Assignment Flashcards
Intro
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, men and women had different positions in society. Women had roles as housewives/carers and men had roles as breadwinners. Many laws were passed before 1918 that gave men the vote, but it wasn’t until 1918 that some women in Britain were given the right to vote. The factors that led to some women gaining the vote include the Suffragists, the Suffragettes, changing attitudes to women, WW1 and examples of other countries. This essay will argue that the most important of these factors is the Suffragist campaign.
suffragists KU
The most important reason some women gained the vote in 1918 was the Suffragists. In 1897, a pressure group led by Millicent Fawcett named the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (the Suffragists) was founded. The Suffragists partook in numerous campaigns and used a vast number of tactics to try and achieve the vote for women - including, but not limited to, starting petitions and talking directly to MPs. Additionally, the Suffragists supported Labour’s ‘votes for all campaign’ and advocated for Labour candidates during elections, receiving support from some MPs for doing so. The Suffragists also supported Britain’s war effort, suspending their campaigns at the start of WWI and creating a registry for women to work jobs that were necessary in aiding the war effort.
suffragists A
The Suffragists were important in some women gaining the vote in 1918 as the Suffragists’ peaceful protests made them out to be responsible which supported the idea that women should gain the right to vote. Women were able to persuade MPs, through conversing with them directly, that they were intelligent and deserving of the vote. This is further demonstrated by historian Bob Whitfield in his book ‘The Extension of The Franchise 1832-1931’ which states: “As we have seen, the non-militant suffragist movement had in fact made considerable progress in advancing the cause of women’s suffrage and in securing a better legal position for women.” This shows that actions taken by the Suffragists to try and gain women the work led to advancements in the women’s suffrage movement, showing they had a major influence on the fight for women’s suffrage
suffragists A+
However, the vast majority of women’s suffrage campaigns began in the mid 1800s and by the 1900’s, had failed to gain awareness and support from the public, or the vote, suggesting they weren’t as important.
suffragists E
Overall, the Suffragists were the most important reason why some women gained the vote in 1918 as the Suffragists had garnered around 53,000 members and had reached agreements of requited support with a few male Trade Unions, as well as the new Labour party, therefore showing that the Suffragists had in fact gained support with the public as their membership had increased, and they had made deals with groups who had power and sway with the general public as well as the political landscape (like the Labour party) which shows that they had influence.
suffragettes KU
A less important reason why some women gained the vote in 1918 is the Suffragettes. The Women’s Social and Political Union (the Suffragettes) was formed in 1903, led by Emmeline Pankhurst, as a result of many women’s frustration at the government’s failure to listen to their demands as well as their desire for action. The Suffragettes motto was “deeds, not words’ and they used actions that differed vastly from the Suffragists’ more peaceful approach. The Suffragettes were renowned for using radical and violent campaign methods, such as arson, vandalism, bombing Lloyd George’s house, attacking police officers, and many more. Many women were sent to prison because of their militant ways of protesting and whilst there, participated in hunger strikes that eventually led to the government having them force-fed. Due to the condition of the women participating in these hunger strikes, the government later published the Cat and Mouse Act which allowed women to be released from prison until they were healthy enough to be re-arrested. The first Suffragette in Scotland to be forcibly fed was Ethel Moorhead in Calton Prison.
suffragettes A
The Suffragettes were important in some women gaining the vote as their aggressive methods gained them a lot of attention from the public, leading to the issue of women’s suffrage being frequently discussed in newspapers as well as in parliament, therefore increasing the demand on the government to act. Furthermore, the hunger strikes carried out by arrested Suffragettes led to the force-feeding of incarcerated women by the government, a decision that was largely frowned upon by the public therefore leading to the public sympathising with the Suffragettes and their cause, leading to the government later taking action by giving women the vote. This is demonstrated further in historian Martin Pugh’s book ‘The March of the Women: A Revisionist Analysis of the Campaign for Women’s Suffrage, 1866-1914’ which states: “The assumption remains widespread, even amongst historians, that until the emergence of the Suffragettes little significant progress had been made towards winning the vote.” This shows that the Suffragettes kickstarted the successful campaign for women’s suffrage, showing the government that they would not back down until their demands were met and that they would go to any means necessary in support of their cause.
suffragettes A+
However, it can be argued that the Suffragettes weren’t important in some women gaining the vote as the British government didn’t want to succumb to radical actions for fear of motivating other groups, including Ireland who had been using violent methods to try and become an independent country. The Suffragettes’ militant methods also strengthened the views of those against women’s suffrage, arguing that women were reckless and illogical.
suffragettes E
Overall, the Suffragists were more important than the Suffragettes as the Suffragettes militant actions, such as changing themselves to Parliament railings and attacking politicians, isolated MPs who they needed the support of in order to make political change. The Suffragists were more important as their peaceful campaign methods gained support and respect from MPs, making it easier to convince them to back their cause and extend the franchise to women.
changing attitudes KU
Another less important reason why some women won the vote is changing attitudes to women. The general public’s opinions of women began to change by the early 1900s, which is demonstrated by the mass amount of new opportunities given to women at this time, such as new jobs, education, and laws. Changing attitudes were reflected in the legal rights given to women during the 19th century, especially those pertaining to marriage (which was a large pillar in society considering 87% of people were married across all generations in the 1850s). These rights included the Infant Custody Act 1873 - a law that allowed women to keep custody of their children after divorce - as well as the Married Women’s Property Act 1882 - a law that allowed women to keep ownership of their property after they got married. Additionally, women were given new educational opportunities. It was mandatory, from 1872, for both genders to attend primary education in Scotland, and in 1878, the University of London was the first university in Britain to open its doors to women, giving them the chance to earn degrees.
changing attitudes A
Changing attitudes to women were important in some women gaining the right to vote as women’s political progress showed they could partake in politics so should have the right to vote. New changes to the law gave women more rights which made people perceive women in a new light. Women also challenged stereotypes that had been prevalent for years and years by moving into the male space.
changing attitudes A+
However, this wasn’t important as working women were not a new phenomenon - they had been an important part of the industrial revolution (which occurred almost two centuries before women won the vote.) Many women had jobs prior to WWI, including roles as teachers, nurses and domestic trades, showing that new attitudes to women, including opportunities like education, weren’t important in women gaining the vote. This is further emphasised in historian Paula Bartley’s book ‘The Changing Role of Women 1815-1914’ which states: “Education may have facilitated the entry of middle-class women into alternative employment but it reinforced working-class women’s domestic role by limiting their educational choice.” This shows that new education laws further perpetuated the idea that poorer women were suited towards roles as housewives/carers instead of giving them the opportunity to show their intelligence, making changing attitudes a less important reason why some women were given the vote.
changing attitudes E
Overall, changing attitudes, whilst important, wasn’t the main reason why some women were given the vote as new ideas of women didn’t see politicians come close to giving women the vote, instead making it obvious that a more direct campaign focused on women’s suffrage was needed. The Suffragists were this campaign - their advocacy targeted the people they needed the most support from; MPs. Their direct political work organising protests and meeting with MPs convinced politicians that women were deserving of the vote, with their lobbying campaigns being an extremely effective strategy as it was much harder for politicians to dismiss them when they met face to face.
WWI KU
Another factor is WWI. Women were a large part of Britain’s war effort during the first world war, most notably working in munition factories making weapons where chemicals like sulfur turned their skin yellow, earning them the nickname “canary girls.”By 1917, 80% of British shells were made by women. A lot of women also travelled overseas to aid the war effort through working as nurses, doctors and ambulance drivers whilst others worked as mechanics and cooks. Women also worked traditionally male jobs in Britain as men were unable to do so. These included working as train drivers, tram drivers and police officers - Edith Smith became the first policewoman to be given the power to arrest. Women also had a major role in other activities, including women’s football where crowds of thousands would show to watch women play.
WWI A
It can be said that WWI was an important reason women won the vote because it is largely argued that some women were given the vote in 1918 as a ‘thank you’ for their war effort. Their aptness to take on these roles gained them a large mass of respect from men across all classes, as well as politicians who commended women for their efforts and diligence. This is further emphasised by historian A.J.P Taylor in his book ‘English History 1914-1945’ which states: “War smoothed the way for democracy - it is one of the few things to be said in its favour.” This shows that WWI made it much easier for Britain to become a more democratic country by proving that women could take on roles that they were previously seen as ‘too weak’ or unable to do.
WWI A+
However, WWI wasn’t an important reason women won the vote as some people despised the more notable role women were gaining in society through their war work, leading them to argue against providing women with more political power, including the vote.
WWI E
Overall, WWI wasn’t as important as the Suffragists as only some women were given the right to vote as a result of WII. The majority of the women who were a part of the most important war effort were single and under 30, the same women who were not given the vote after WWI. This shows that WWI is not a clear reason for women gaining the vote as the women given the vote as a ‘thank you’ were the women who didn’t participate in aiding the British war effort, disputing the claim that WWI was effective as a way of proving to politicians that women should have the vote because of their capabilities considering these same women weren’t given the vote. On the other hand, the Suffragists continued the fight for women’s suffrage after 1918, campaigning for votes for all women and didn’t stop until this accomplishment was achieved, showing they were a more important reason for women winning the vote.
examples of other countries KU
The final lesser important factor is examples of other countries. Several countries across the world extended the franchise to women before Britain, many of which were a part of the British empire e.g. Australia. Britain was the leader of a global empire - nevertheless its member countries were more advanced in regards to women’s suffrage. Women in Britain were aware of developments in other countries - Emmeline Pankhurst voyaged to the USA, using her trips to raid funds to support the British women’s suffrage campaign. Kate Shepherd, a pioneer of the women’s suffrage movement living in New Zealand, got together with leaders of women’s suffrage in Britain to converse about strategies, and was also the first to sign a petition targeted at the New Zealand Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, imploring the government to lobby the British government in support of women’s suffrage.
examples of other countries A
Examples of other countries had an important role in some women in Britain earning the vote as the efforts and successful achievements won by women across the globe motivated women in Britain to continue fighting until women’s suffrage was secured. There were no negative consequences occurring in countries where women did have the vote, showing that there would be no harm in giving women in Britain the vote too. It could also be said that Britain extended the franchise to women to keep their position of global power, as well as to satisfy women who were frustrated about the differences.
examples of other countries A+
However, it could be said that this was not important because, despite a couple countries providing women the vote prior to 1918, most countries across the world didn’t give their female citizens the right to vote until after Britain had, including France (1944), USA (1920) and Spain (1931,) therefore diminishing the idea that the British government felt threatened by other countries’ advancements in terms of giving women the vote.
examples of other countries E
Overall, the Suffragists were more important than examples of other countries as a lot of the countries that gave women the vote did so without limitations, whereas Britain’s women’s suffrage laws came with conditions - only women over 30 who were married to/were property owners could vote to begin with, demonstrating that foreign affairs had little impact on British democracy. Whereas, the Suffragists continued their campaign after 1918, fighting to give the vote to all women, even going so far as to change their group’s name to the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship to represent their new campaign, proving that they were more effective.
conclusion
In conclusion, the Suffragists were the main reason why some women in Britain earned the right to vote. The Suffragists were more important than the Suffragettes as the Suffragettes militant actions made them seem irresponsible in the eyes of politicians and meant they isolated MPs, the group they needed the greatest support from, while the Suffragists’s peaceful actions showed MPs that women were capable of being in the political scene, making them support women’s suffrage and therefore giving women the vote.
The Suffragists were more important than changing attitudes to women because politicians didn’t come close to granting women the vote because of changing attitudes and instead made it obvious that a direct campaign centered on women’s suffrage was needed a.k.a the Suffragists, whose direct political work convinced politicians that women were deserving of the vote. The Suffragists were more important than WWI as the women who did the most important war work during WWI weren’t awarded with the right to vote afterwards, showing WWI wasn’t a clear reason why women were given the vote. The Suffragists continued the fight for the vote after WWI, continuing to prove how responsible and intelligent women were, making them a more important reason why women were given the vote. The Suffragists were more important than examples of other countries as other countries’ women’s suffrage laws didn’t come with restrictions whilst Britain’s did at first, demonstrating that foreign affairs had little impact on British politicians. The Suffragists continued campaigning for votes for all women until the British government swore it into law, making them a much more important reason why some women won the right to vote.
