franchise Flashcards
what is universal suffrage?
all people over 18 who are not in prison, mentally ill etc has the right to vote
why do people not vote?
parties don’t represent them
feel their vote has no impact
feel they are not educated enough
don’t have the time
who had the vote at the start of the 19th century?
small no. wealthy men, land owning class, voting public so people knew who you voted for
what did the 1832 Great Reform Act do?
expanded vote to many middle-class property owning men. 300,000 men gained vote
what did the 1867 Great Reform Act do?
extended vote to skilled workers, gave MPs to industrial towns and cities
700,000 men gained vote
how did the Suffragists (NUWSS) campaign for the vote?
peacefully, lobbying gov etc
how did the suffragettes (WSPU) campaign for the vote?
violent action, direct campaigning, civil disobedience
what is the franchise?
the right to vote in elections
what is the essential argument over the franchise?
those who pay tax should have a say in how that tax is spent
what did the Representation of the People Act 1918 do?
extended the franchise to all women over the age of 30 and all men over 21
why was there a change in opinion in giving women + more men the vote in 1918?
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
what did the Representation of the People Act 1928 do?
extended franchise to all citizens over 21 regardless of gender
what did the Representation of the People Act 1969 do?
extended franchise to all 18-20 year olds due to their role changing after WW2, vote regardless of race, gender or wealth
who was the leader of the suffragists?
Millicent Fawcett
how were the suffragists organised?
internally democratic, members elected president, made decisions through committees
what were some of the methods of the suffragists?
writing letters
pamphlets
educational lectures
organising petitions
peaceful marches and protests
how many members did the suffragist movement have by 1914?
more than 100,000
who founded the Suffragette movement?
Emmeline Pankhurst
what were the aims of the suffragettes?
secure equal voting rights for women
have female only membership
be group of action not words
focus only on issue of political equality
what methods did the suffragette movement use?
disrupting political party meetings
chaining themselves
smashing windows
attacking/ fighting police
blowing up buildings
burning buildings
hunger strike in prison
what was the Cat and Mouse Act, 1913?
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
did violent methods get women the right to vote? what would support the statement?
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
why did using violent methods not get women the right to vote?
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
why do people campaign for prisoners right to vote?
believe it’s a violation of their human rights, a blanket ban is unfair with some people not having committed serious crimes