CDA Flashcards
What was the parliamentary committee and when was it formed
1862
Established to investigate this problem of VD and propose a solution
What were the two perspectives of the parliamentary committee
Liberal:
-improved hospital care
-penalties for men who had evidence of being diseased
-more leisure activities to entertain military
Conservative:
-greater regulation of prostitutes
-compulsory examination of prostitutes
When was the contagious diseases act passed and what did it do
1864
Allowed police officers to arrest any women suspected of being a prostitute. She would then be subjected to compulsory medical checks
When was the CDA extended and what did it do
It was extended twice once in 1866 and once in 1869
1866: made a periodical medical examination of all prostitutes on 11 districts compulsory
1869: extended to cover 18 districts
How long were women kept in lock hospitals if they were found to be infected
3-9 months
What were common treatments for VD
Mercury used in numerous forms including tablets, vapour baths, ointments and injections
Why did people oppose the acts
- the law only focused on women
- it did not work soldiers were still contracting VD number of cases actually increased
- the rules to identify and test women were vague
- broke habeas corpus
What was the national association for the repeal of the CDA (NARCDA) and when was it formed
1869
- middle class male movement
- they focused on preventing the spread of the acts to the north but later extended to oppose the law entirely
What was the ladies national association for the repeal of the CDA (LNA)
Formed a few weeks after NARCDA led by Josephine Butler
Presented their opinion on 31st dec 1869
A copy of the statement was presented to parliament with 2,000 signatures from supporters
when were the acts repealed
1883
Why did parliament repeal the acts
Over 100,000 petitions been presented to parliament
Why was prostitution rife in the 19th century?
Most working class women received little / no education and limited to poorly paid temporary jobs – prostitution only alternative to workhouse to supplement meagre earnings
What did the middle classes think of prostitution?
A moral threat to society that threatened the sanctity of the family unit and institution of marriage
In what way was prostitution deemed acceptable?
Prostitutes were necessary to satisfy male sexual desire that could not be exclusively satisfied by their wives. ‘Necessary evil’
Give an example of how the double standard was rife in the 19th century
Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 which stated that a man could divorce a woman on the grounds of adultery but women could not divorce a man for the same reason
Why was the Crimean war significant?
Disease led to more casualties in hospital than on the battlefield
What did John Liddell advocate for in 1862 committee?
- the government should regulate prostitutes for soldiers with frequent checks
What are the main reasons why the CDA were introduced?
- Venereal diseases in the army
- Evangelical Christians condemned the use of prostitutes claiming it desecrated the holy union of marriage.
- Poor health among prostitutes
Why is it unlikely that the CDA were introduced to improve the health of prostitutes?
- women treated terribly
- Acton and Nightingale mostly ignored
What did the 1864 Contagious Diseases Act allow?
Authorised police to arrest women on the suspicion of them being prostitutes and have them forcibly medically examined
Why was there a growing group of people campaigning for the repeal of the CDA?
- They saw them as an infringement of women’s rights
- Many women were wrongly accused of prostitution and subject to investigation
- It was difficult for women to reintegrate into society after investigations, they were normally scorned and ostracised
What stimulated the start to the repeal campaign?
In the mid-1860s, there were plans to extend the system of regulation to the towns and cities of the North
The repeal campaign began during a reformist period.
What was established in 1869 as part of the repeal?
The repeal campaign began at the same time of the passing of the 1867 Reform Act
Was The National Association for Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts effective?
Not really - they were not able to make a real impact to MPs
When was the LNA established?
1869
Give the name of the person who is significant in starting the campaign against the repeal of the CDA
Elizabeth Wolstenholme
Why was it not possible for Elizabeth Wolstenholme to run the LNA?
She was arguably too radical - her views on marriage and unwillingness to comply with mid-Victorian expectations of respectability would’ve tarnished the movement.
What made Butler agree to joining and leading the LNA?
- After the death of her daughter, she sought to help those with greater grief than her own
- Her family were reformist (they campaigned against slavery)