Higher History British Unit Issue 1 - Votes for Women

I can identify 5 factors which contributed to women being given the vote. I can evaluate the importance of each factor, giving points of evidence to support this analysis.

Task 1 First Page - An evaluation of the reasons why women won greater political equality by 1928. Leave 2 pages between each heading- Heading 1 - Changing attitudes to women in society Heading 2 - the women’s suffragist campaign Heading 3 - militant Suffragette campaign up to 1914 Heading 4 - Women's work during World War 1 Heading 5 - Political Reasons/Foreign Pressure

Section 1 - Changing Attitudes in Society Task 1 - Divide your sheet in two. In one half describe the traditional Victorian view of women. Use Sheets 1 and 2 to help you Victorian Attitudes Changing Attitudes

2) Explain why this would have helped the cause of votes for women. Women- Know Your Limits!.mp4 1) Describe the changes towards women's role in society that took place during the 1800s. Give specific examples. 2) Explain why this would have helped the cause of votes for women. 3) Examine any counter-arguments that could be made. p113-114 p27-32

Political Involvement 'Separate Spheres' Legal Changes Women's Property Act It can be argued that as women gained greater rights under the law, it made their lack of political voice an obvious anomaly. Universal Primary education 1870s Educational Changes University (Girton College) Range of professions - law, medicine As education was opened up, women were more likely to demand the right to vote. Furthermore, by flourishing academically, the idea that women were unable to process complex political concepts was debunked. Became members of political parties Political Involvement Could vote and stand for election in local elections Helped to run school boards, Poor Houses etc. Women were proving their capability to flourish in responsible positions, and therefore the argument that they were incapable of rational, political thought was undermined. If women could be trusted to campaign for political parties, and to vote in local elections, surely the next step was to grant them the vote in General Elections.

'Their participation in local government made women's exclusion from national elections increasingly untenable' Martin Pugh 'The overall effect of these developments was to erode male prejudices'. John Kerr

Section 2 - The Women's Suffragist Campaign AKA NUWSS

1) Describe the actions of the NUWSS (Suffragists) 1) Describe the actions of the NUWSS (Suffragists). Give specific examples. 2) Explain why this would have helped the cause of votes for women. 3) Examine any counter-arguments that could be made. p114-116 p33

Peaceful Tactics Political Influence Petitions, pamphlets, speeches, lobbying MPs etc. It can be argued that this aided the cause of votes for women as it convinced politicians and members of the public that women could behave in a rational, responsible manner, and thus would be able to exercise the right to vote in a similarly sensible manner. Political Influence Persuaded MPs to discuss Conciliation Bills (1910,1911,1912). This suggests that the Suffragists were extremely significant as they had successfully convinced many MPs to discuss, and to vote for votes for women. It has argued that many of the MPs who passed the Representation of the People Act in 1918 were convinced to do so by the Suffragists before the war.

The political alliances the democratic suffragists had formed in support of their demand had ensured women would have to be included in any future reform bill. Sandra Holton Martin Pugh argues that because of their quiet persuasion, many prominent politicians supported them e.g. Lloyd George BUT most MPs only gave them ‘lukewarm’ support.

Section 3 - militant Suffragette campaign up to 1914

1) Describe the actions of the WSPU (Suffragettes) 1) Describe the actions of the WSPU (Suffragettes). Give specific examples. 2) Explain why this would have helped the cause of votes for women. 3) Examine any counter-arguments that could be made. p116-118 p34-37

Militant Tactics Public Sympathy Arson, heckling, telephone wires cut, paintings slashed etc. It can be argued that this aided the cause of votes for women as it gained a great deal of publicity. It ensured that the issue of Votes for Women was in all the newspapers and was discussed in parliament. It has been claimed that one reason the vote was extended in 1918 was because the government was determined to avoid a renewal of WSPU violence. Public Sympathy Emily Davison at the Derby, Force-Feeding Historians have suggested that the WSPU were able to use Emily Davison's death and the issue of force-feeding to generate public sympathy. The sacrifice made by some women won them admirers among both men and women, and helped to convince people to support their cause.

Constance Rover judged the Suffragette campaign to have been successful and sees the movement as heroic. She also argues that the government was genuinely afraid of resumed militancy post WWI, so this contributed to the Representation of the People Act. ‘Unwomanly’ tactics like heckling and pestering politicians, hurling missiles at the police and rowdy demonstrations outside halls from which they were banned, had alienated the more cautious sympathisers.' Diane Atkinson

Section 4 - Women's work during World War 1

1) Describe the work carried out by women during World War 1 1) Describe the work carried out by women during World War 1. Give specific examples. 2) Explain why this would have helped the cause of votes for women. 3) Examine any counter-arguments that could be made. p118-120 p38-40

‘War smoothed the way for democracy ‘War smoothed the way for democracy. It is one of the few things to be said in its favour.’ AJP Taylor “Women proved by their work that they deserved the vote equally with men. Thus their war efforts succeeded where the Suffragette campaign failed.” John Ray 'It would be naïve to believe that women received the vote solely for services rendered in the First World War. It must be remembered that only women over 30 were given the vote and the very women who had helped in the war effort – the young women of the munitions factories – were actually denied the vote.' Paula Bartley

Section 5 - Examples from other countries/Political Reasons

1) Describe the other areas of the world that gave women the vote. 2) Explain why this would have helped the cause of votes for women. 3) Examine any counter-arguments that could be made. p118

Foreign Examples Politics Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Canada, US States, (Russia) Therefore, it could be argued that the vote was granted to women in Britain as it would be embarrassing for countries in its Empire to have enfranchised women and for Britain not to have. Britain claimed to be the Defender of Democracy. Could this be true if 50% of the population could not vote while they were working for the war effort? It can also be argued that the British government passed reforms in order to head off the possibility of violent confrontation as had been seen in Russia. Politics Lloyd-George replaced Asquith as PM, Servicemen enfranchised, Historians have suggested that Lloyd-George was far more sympathetic to the cause of Votes for Women, and therefore his position as PM made it far more likely for any reform to be passed. Furthermore, some have argued that propertied women over 30 were given the vote as it was felt they would bolster the middle-class vote in the face of so many working-class soldiers getting the vote.

'It would have been a peculiar embarrassment if the mother of democracy, Britain, lagged behind other countries.' Paula Bartley

Which factor was most important in gaining votes for women? Changing attitudes to women in society The women’s Suffragist campaign The militant Suffragette campaign Women's work during World War 1 For each of the other reasons, write two sentences which explain why your chosen factor was more significant. You can use quotes to support your argument. e.g. Comparing women's war work to the Suffragette campaign The Suffragettes damaged the cause of women through law breaking and ‘terrorism’ and undid the good work of the Suffragists. War work was more important as it gave them the opportunity to show patriotism, responsibility and to gain positive publicity.

Comparison with line of argument, with clear link. Evaluation of current factor, including historiography. In evaluation, the Suffragists did help to raise the issue of suffrage in Parliament, although Pugh correctly points out that most MPs were only 'lukewarm' in their support. Instead, it was women's changing role in society which was more important as it had inspired the Suffragists to campaign in the first place. Comparison with line of argument, with clear link.

Complete the Point The WSPU, led by Emmeline Pankhurst, grew tired of being ignored and so began to carry out a militant campaign. This included heckling politicians, smashing shop windows and setting fire to buildings such as Leuchars railway station. Analysis .... ....

The militant campaign of the WSPU had serious repercussions The militant campaign of the WSPU had serious repercussions. One example was the brutal force-feeding of women in prison after they went on hunger-strike. Another was the death of Suffragette Emily Davison as she was knocked down by the King's horse whilst protesting at the 1913 Derby. Analysis .... ....

Essay Title How significant was the militant Suffragette campaign in helping women achieve the vote?

Attachments Women- Know Your Limits!.mp4