franchise

Question 1

what is universal suffrage?

Answer 1

all people over 18 who are not in prison, mentally ill etc has the right to vote

Question 2

why do people not vote?

Answer 2

parties don’t represent them
feel their vote has no impact
feel they are not educated enough
don’t have the time

Question 3

who had the vote at the start of the 19th century?

Answer 3

small no. wealthy men, land owning class, voting public so people knew who you voted for

Question 4

what did the 1832 Great Reform Act do?

Answer 4

expanded vote to many middle-class property owning men. 300,000 men gained vote

Question 5

what did the 1867 Great Reform Act do?

Answer 5

extended vote to skilled workers, gave MPs to industrial towns and cities
700,000 men gained vote

Question 6

how did the Suffragists (NUWSS) campaign for the vote?

Answer 6

peacefully, lobbying gov etc

Question 7

how did the suffragettes (WSPU) campaign for the vote?

Answer 7

violent action, direct campaigning, civil disobedience

Question 8

what is the franchise?

Answer 8

the right to vote in elections

Question 9

what is the essential argument over the franchise?

Answer 9

those who pay tax should have a say in how that tax is spent

Question 10

what did the Representation of the People Act 1918 do?

Answer 10

extended the franchise to all women over the age of 30 and all men over 21

Question 11

why was there a change in opinion in giving women + more men the vote in 1918?

Answer 11

men of all classes fought in war, should be rewarded
women contributed to war effort
women responsible and capable of maintaining safe country during war
suffragettes stopped violence, helped war effort
PM supportive of women’s right to vote

Question 12

what did the Representation of the People Act 1928 do?

Answer 12

extended franchise to all citizens over 21 regardless of gender

Question 13

what did the Representation of the People Act 1969 do?

Answer 13

extended franchise to all 18-20 year olds due to their role changing after WW2, vote regardless of race, gender or wealth

Question 14

who was the leader of the suffragists?

Answer 14

Millicent Fawcett

Question 15

how were the suffragists organised?

Answer 15

internally democratic, members elected president, made decisions through committees

Question 16

what were some of the methods of the suffragists?

Answer 16

writing letters
pamphlets
educational lectures
organising petitions
peaceful marches and protests

Question 17

how many members did the suffragist movement have by 1914?

Answer 17

more than 100,000

Question 18

who founded the Suffragette movement?

Answer 18

Emmeline Pankhurst

Question 19

what were the aims of the suffragettes?

Answer 19

secure equal voting rights for women
have female only membership
be group of action not words
focus only on issue of political equality

Question 20

what methods did the suffragette movement use?

Answer 20

disrupting political party meetings
chaining themselves
smashing windows
attacking/ fighting police
blowing up buildings
burning buildings
hunger strike in prison

Question 21

what was the Cat and Mouse Act, 1913?

Answer 21

women on the brink of death would be temporarily released from prison to regain strength at home then return to jail
no deaths meant no martyrs

Question 22

did violent methods get women the right to vote? what would support the statement?

Answer 22

violence gained media reporting, public awareness raised
public fearful of attacks issue kept in public eye
brutal suppression by police led to sympathy
people already opposed to giving women vote not going to be any more put off by use of violence

Question 23

why did using violent methods not get women the right to vote?

Answer 23

violence proved women irresponsable
gov not giving in to terrorists
turned moderate men and women from cause
membership of WSPU decreasing, people turning towards NUWSS
peaceful work of women during war helped get vote

Question 24

why do people campaign for prisoners right to vote?

Answer 24

believe it’s a violation of their human rights, a blanket ban is unfair with some people not having committed serious crimes

Question 25

what methods do groups who promote prisoners rights to vote take part in?

Answer 25

supporting legal challenges from prisoners
produce articles
set up petitions
use insider status to lobby politicians

Question 26

what is the goal of the prisoner right to vote campaign?

Answer 26

extend the franchise to prisoners serving less than a year

Question 27

why do people believe prisoners should be given the right to vote?

Answer 27

removes sense of civic responsibility, rehabilitation harder
no evidence loss of franchise is deterrent
right to vote fundamental
removal of vote makes prisoner non-person + alienates them from society
ECHR says blanket ban violation of HRA

Question 28

why do people believe prisoners should not be given the right to vote?

Answer 28

custodial crime against society should lose say in how that society is run
threat of losing vote could prevent crime
convicted criminals say in how laws made undermines principle of justice
concentrated in constituencies unlikely to stay there once free so why choose that représentative

Question 29

what does votes at 16 campaign for?

Answer 29

extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds

Question 30

why do people believe 16 and 17 year olds should be given the right to vote?

Answer 30

have other legal roles and responsibilities
increase education + participation
should have say in laws that affect them
social media increased political awareness

Question 31

why do people think 16 and 17 year olds should not be given the vote?

Answer 31

still children - in education, reliant on parents
voter turnout low 18-24 little evidence they want the vote
know little about politics- misuse right need more education
more likely to be taken in by fake news and extreme politics

Question 32

when was the franchise extended in a one off event?

Answer 32

scottish independence referendum