Women and The Vote Flashcards
Background facts
Many believed that women, if they desired to be politically active, could influence their husbands vote.
It was also believed women were not critical enough thinkers to be allowed the vote
WW1 - KNOWLEDGE
Women took over male dominated job industries during the war - something they were not allowed to do pre-war.
E.g. women during the war period worked in munitions factories producing around 80% of the shells used by the British during WW1.
WW1 - ANALYSIS
Women working in these male dominated fields as ‘proof’ to the government that women can be entirely equal to men,
Post-War when some women gained the vote in 1918, many saw this like a ‘thank you’ from the government to women for all their hard work and effort during the war, as without women working the UK would have collapsed during the war.
WW1 - ANALYSIS+
However, not all women, especially not working-class women, gained the vote by 1918. Only women, over 30, who were property owners were actually given the vote.
This enraged some women as those who worked the most and the hardest during the war, the working class, were not even given the vote despite all their efforts.
SUFFRAGISTS - KNOWLEDGE
Held non-violent protests, e.g letter sending, marches and petitions in order to get media attention and, in an attempt, to get politicians on their side.
For example, the suffragists held the mud march of 1907 a peaceful demonstration in London to protest for women’s suffrage and the right to vote.
SUFFRAGISTS - ANALYSIS
The Suffragists were seen as very responsible and respectable protesters and earned a lot of respect and praise from MP’s who supported their cause.
SUFFRAGISTS - ANALYSIS+
However, the Suffragists had been campaigning since mid 1800’s but even by the 1900’s had still failed in their attempt to gain women the vote, or even remotely gain a lot of MP support for their cause.
SUFFRAGETTES - KNOWLEDGE
Suffragettes campaigned through use of violent methods e.g. arson attacks and post box bombings.
E.g. one of the suffragettes most famous campaign methods was hunger striking, many suffragettes who were arrested during protests would starve themselves until they were eventually released from prison.
SUFFRAGETTE - ANALYSIS
This led the government to try and attempt force feeding as they wanted less violent campaigners on the street, but only made them look bad as not only were women practically dying in their prisons, but they were also using torturous practices such as force feeding.
SUFFRAGETTE - ANALYSIS+
However, their violent campaign methods made them unpopular with both MPs and the public as it caused a disturbance in citizens daily life.
Having poor relationship with MPs made it a lot harder to gain the vote as many MPs saw them as violent and irresponsible.
