Suffragettes- September 2022 Flashcards
What does franchise mean?
Who can vote
What was the Great Reform Act 1832?
One in 5 could now vote.
Were constituencies- almost no voters
Abolished ‘rotten boroughs’- (eg- Old Sarum)
What was the Second Reform Act 1867?
Passed by conservative government of Benjamin Disraeli
Allowed many working-class men in cities to vote
1/3 of all men could now vote
What was the Third Reform Act 1884?
Passed by William Gladstone’s Liberal gov
Established uniform franchise for men to vote
All working me who met property qualification could now vote
40% of adult men were still excluded, mainly working class
What was the Representation of People Act 1918?
Passedby David Lloyd George wartime coalition gov
All men over the age of 21 (or 19 for veterans) could vote
Women over 30 who met property qualification could now vote
What was the Representation of People Act 1928?
Property qualification was removed
All men and women over 21 could now vote
Women were on equal terms to men
What was the Representation of the People Act 1969?
Harold Wilson Labour gov
Voting age was lowered to 18
in the UK, who’s allowed to vote?
Allowed to vote if you are over 18, not a criminal, mentally capable of voting or NOT a peer
How were the Suffragettes significant to the campaign to extend the franchise using aggressive, militant tactics?
SIGNIFICANT
Drew more attention to the cause of women’s suffrage than peaceful tactics of the Suffragists
What were the militant and aggressive tactics the Suffragettes used?
Smashing windows, attacking police officers, blowing up buildings
Why did the Suffragettes promise to help in WW1 help them gain the vote?
Could be argued the Representation of the People Act was a reward for women’s service throughout the war. Government said they wouldn’t give in to the violence of the group. Contribution to war effort was more effective than violence
How did hunger strikes help the Suffragettes extend the franchise?
Often go on hunger strikes
Gov’s policy of force-feeding prisoners was met with huge criticism from public- led to Cat and Mouse Act 1913. Public outcry against force feeding was so strong- shows tactics of hunger strikes was effective in drawing the public’s attention to the Suffragette cause.
What was the Cat and Mouse Act 1913?
Said that a woman in prison on the brink of death would be released from prison until they regained their strength, at which point they’d return to prison
