Women & Enfranchisement

Question 1

Introduction - Background

Answer 1

Prior to women’s enfranchisement in 1918, women were viewed as being physically, emotionally and mentally different to men.

• strict gender roles
• women’s place was at home
• too “delicate” for politics
• would neglect responsibilities at home

Question 2

Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) - LOA

Answer 2

The Suffragettes - generated a large volume of publicity for issue of women’s suffrage.

Question 3

Introduction - Factors

Answer 3

However, many other factors had a contribution at a lesser degree in the road to women’s suffrage such as The Suffragists, women’s work during the First World War and the gradual change in attitudes within British society.

Question 4

WSPU - Link

Answer 4

The suffrage campaign was an important reason as to why women gained the vote in 1918.

Question 5

WSPU - KU

Answer 5

Founder - Emmeline Pankhurst & 2 Daughters.
Slogan - “Deeds not Words”
Tactics - Violent : slashed works of art and chained to govt. buildings to gain as much attention as possible.

Question 6

WSPU - A

Answer 6

Actions gained a lot of media attention, especially through newspapers as their actions were to disruptive they could not be ignored.

Question 7

WSPU - A+

Answer 7

Brought issue to forefront ‘political hot potato, govt forced to take notice of them.

However, damaged reputation of campaign as as they were violent and often criminal & racist only proved make stereotypes correct and reinforced reasons why they were too irresponsible to vote.

Question 8

WSPU - Emily Wilding Davidson KU

Answer 8

Showed extreme lengths women would go to. In June 1913 she attended the Epsom Derby and threw herself infront of the kings horse

Suffered severe injuries and died a few days later. Suffragettes called her a martyr, MPs called her a fool.

Question 9

WSPU- EWD A

Answer 9

Negative attention to campaign + damaged respectable/responsible image they tried to portray.

Question 10

WSPU - E

Answer 10

Militancy through the the period gained publicity which ultimately helped breathe new life into a problem the British press seemed to no longer be interested in.

Question 11

NUWSS - LINK

Answer 11

Another factor which played a significant role in gaining women the vote in 1918 is The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies.

Question 12

NUWSS - KU

Answer 12

Founder - Millicent Fawcett
“Peaceful campaigning methods” best way to win vote as would show women as respectable and could be trusted with vote.
Tactics - holding meetings, participating in peaceful protests.

Question 13

NUWSS - A

Answer 13

Gained support of powerful groups within society such as trade unions & mutual agreement of support with PM Campbell Bannerman.

Helped to change political attitudes within society.

Question 14

NUWSS - A+

Answer 14

Put forward conciliation bills which were the first of their kind to parliament in an attempt to enfranchise women.

However, unsuccessful as all pre-war parliamentary bills aimed at women’s enfranchisement were defeated leading to criticisms of actual significance as achieved very little solid progress.

Question 15

NUWSS - E

Answer 15

Generated a large amount of support with over 200 branches with 53,000 members by 1914.

Important in gaining interest and support of British women, ultimately advancing the cause.

Question 16

Gradual Change - LINK

Answer 16

Gradual change in British society was another contributing factor as to why women gained the vote in 1918.

Question 17

GC - KU

Answer 17

Industrialisation meant more women went out to work, in 1850 women made up 35% of the workforce and women became aware of their economic worth.

Due to the volume of women in employment, trade union membership increased as women had more reason to campaign for improved rights.

Question 18

GC - A

Answer 18

These occurrences were important in women gaining the vote as greater equality was achieved in wider society which made the vote seem increasingly more likely.

Question 19

GC - E

Answer 19

Less important of a factor that the WSPU as although these changes aimed to remove male prejudices and ultimately create acceptance, without the added pressures of the campaigns of the WSPU enfranchisement for women may not have became available which means the shift in attitudes would have remained the same.

Question 20

War Work - KU

Answer 20

During WW11 the WSPU & NUWSS suspended all activities to assist in the war effort.

Women carried out jobs such a bus conductors, postal service and police officers.

Worked in munitions factories making 80% of all explosives for the war.

Question 21

WW - A+

Answer 21

Valuable work during such a difficult time radically changed male opinions about women’s role in society and balancing out negative publicity caused by suffragette campaigns.

However, could be argued that whey were only granted the vote as govt were worried the would join revitalised suffrage campaigns and they’re valuable work may have little contribution to the cause.

Question 22

WW - E+

Answer 22

WSPU more important, French women also contributed to war efforts in France however were not granted the vote therefore many historians argue this is because there was no pre-war parliamentary campaign like there was in Britain. This illustrates the greater importance of the WSPU as they were continually present to publicise their demands.

Question 23

Conclusion

Answer 23

War - war work contributed greatly to the cause as women halted campaigning to assist and this showed women to be hardworking and trustworthy people who were worthy of the vote.

NUWSS- gained support of lib dems = showed them to be respectable.

GC - lesser importance, changed public perspective it did not aid progress.

WSPU - pushed issue onto governments agenda due to their radical protests and demonstrations which were of an inconvenience to the govt who did not wish to have further altercations with WSPU. Their actions gained publicity throughout the world which made it virtually impossible for the issue to be ignored.