Unit 6: How far was the Liberal government to blame for the continued failure of legislation for female suffrage between 1909 and 1913? Flashcards
What were the reasons for the failure of the women’s suffrage by 1909?
Although the Liberal government (1906) consisted of MPs that pledged to grant women the vote (yet made no mention of women in its manifesto) in 1909, Liberal MP Geoffrey Howard introduced a private member’s bill for male and female suffrage based on a three month residential qualification- failed to proceed after second reading as it was regarded as too radical.
Party deadlock between Conservatives and Liberals over the method of granting female suffrage: Conservatives wanted women to have equal suffrage rights to men based on existing property-based franchise which was rejected by Liberals as it would add Conservative votes. Instead, Liberals favoured extending the suffrage criteria so that working class women and men could vote, which was rejected by Conservatives as it would add Liberal and Labour votes.
Asquith continuously undermined legislative attempts that would enfranchise women as h did not understand why women would want the vote as it was ‘unnatural’, held a Gladstonian view of political change (too much change quickly led to political instability) ad refused to allow militancy to dictate government policy, far more concerned with problems of Ireland, social reform, industrial unrest.
What was the result of Asquith’s disregard of female suffrage?
To confirm his view that the need for female suffrage was abnormal, he looked to his wife and daughter who opposed female suffrage.
Became frequent target of militant violence: attacked on his golf course in Scotland by suffragettes, assaulted by women, heckled in public- displays of militancy strengthened his resolve.
Describe the conciliation bill 1910.
Asquith called a general election due to the mounting pressure over the House of Lord’s refusal to pass the 1909 Budget and the constitutional crisis- resulted in liberal return without their majority.
All-party committee appointed to address the question of female suffrage, supported by WSPU and NUWSS and consisted of 54 MPs- proposed conciliation bill that gave the vote to women householders and business occupants with an income of £10, marriage not a disqualification but a husband and wife could not vote on the basis of the same property.
Militant hostilities from WSPU paused whilst this measure was debated. The bill was criticised in the House of Commons for granting the vote to only a million women, mostly widows and splinsters.
Describe the 1910 Constitutional crisis.
The House of Lords decision to veto Lloyd George’s 1909 Budget triggered the constitutional crisis, in which the elected Liberal government had been locked by an unelected House of Lords.
The Parliament Act 1911 which prohibited the House of Lords from vetoing bills relating to finance, ensured this did not happen again.
Describe the second conciliation bill.
In November, parliament dissolved for another election due to a breakdown in relations between the House of Lords and House of Commons.
The WSPU resumed hostilities- riot occurred in Parliament Square, where 300 women were assaulted by the police- 3 dead.
Bill passed in May 1911 by 255 votes to 88, yet opposed by Lloyd George due to fear it would add Conservative votes.
Cabinet agreed to give a week to a similar measure in 1912.
Describe the third conciliation bill.
Bill defeated by 14 votes- terrible blow to women’s suffrage campaign, in response NUWSS made an alliance with the Labour Party and WSPU militancy continued.
WSPU militancy contributed to the bill’s failure as had it passed, Asquith was publicly pledged to allow further time to pass legislation for women’s suffrage therefore the WSPU lost their peacetime chance to secure the vote.
Although it was the same measure parliament passed by a majority of 167 in 1911, it was defeated in 1912 because Asquith the Irish nationalist MPs to drop their support fir the bill in order to secure legislation for the Irish Home Rule.
Significant collapse in support- 91 MPs that approved female suffrage in 1911 abstained in 1912 because of the doubt created by the WSPU militant violence which called into question the character of women as they appeared to be irresponsible and too reckless to be trusted with political representation.
Describe the government franchise bill 1913.
Supported by Labour, Liberals, Conservative MPs- to extend vote to working class men, but not to include women despite Lloyd George’s suggestion as Conservative MP James Lowther claimed that such an amendment would invalidate the bill- caused more WSPU violence.
Although Asquith’s opposition, parliamentary procedure and political deadlock over the form of female suffrage contributed to the failure of the government to give women the vote, the WSPU miltancy was an immensely damaging feature as shown by Lloyd George informing Millicent Fawcett that it made reform impossible. Ramsay MacDonald (Labour party leader) described WSPU activities as hysterical.
While post-1910 violence reduced the enthusiasm of pro-suffrage MPs, the waves of violence in 1911-13 damaged parliament’s efforts to extend the franchise.
WSPU’s actions of targeting private property, destruction of churches, politician’s homes was used as evidence by anti-suffrage groups of women’s unsuitability for politics- from 1912 parliamentary debates moved to discussions of how to prevent the violence.
Conclusion
By 1914, WSPU lacked ideas and leadership became disjointed. Although they could claim some credit of bringing female suffrage to public attention 1903-8, its handling of protests from 1909-13 impeded attempts at reform and provided ammunition to those who opposed female suffrage.
NUWSS from 1912 worked with Labour to ensure the cause remained a priority in mainstream policing: NUWSS’s Election Fighting Funding Campaign for pro-suffrage Labour candidates valued by Labour Party during by elections 1913-14.
WSPU helped NUWSS’s growth.
