The representation of the people act 1918 and women's right to vote

Question 1

What act was created in 1918?

Answer 1

• the representation of the people act (and women’s rights)

Question 2

what aspects of life for women were changing in the 1800’s?

Answer 2

• new jobs (typists, telephone exchange workers, teachers and nurses)
• changes to marriage laws which meant women could divorce their husband for cruelty, desertion or bigamy
• women could keep their own property and leave their husband

Question 3

what did these changes lead women to do?

Answer 3

• although it meant they had a greater sense of independence and personal responsibility
• they wanted to be given the franchise in order to achieve gender equality

Question 4

Why did the issue of voting rights have to be considered?

Answer 4

• many men had lost the right to vote as a result of serving overseas during the first world war
• this provided an opportunity to discuss women’s voting rights at the time
• the suffragettes had stopped violence and aided the war effort, after the war was over, the government feared they would they might start up another campaign.

Question 5

Why else did the issue of voting rights have to be considered in 1918?

Answer 5

• women contributed to the war effort at home and in non combat roles overseas
• with many men away at war, women had proven themselves responsible at maintaining a safe country
• David Lyod-George had replaced Herbert Asquith as prime minister and he was much more supportive of women’s rights

Question 6

What did the representation of the people act in 1918 entail?

Answer 6

• it extended the franchise to all women over the age of 30 as well as men over the age of 21 as they recognised their war effort
• this gave a degree of female enfranchisement and full universal suffrage to adult men.