1. VOTE FOR WOMEN IN BRITAIN: the movement for female suffrage
The death of Emily Davison, a suffragette campaigner, 5 June 1913
Suffragist campaign
HOW DID BRITISH WOMEN GAIN THE RIGHT TO VOTE?

2. WOMEN IN BRITAIN BY 1900
By 1900 women had achieved many improvments in their social and economic rights. But in employment and education there were still many inequalities . Most women either worked at home, or as servants in the homes of the wealthy, or in factories. The minority of educated women had new opportunities in the professions of teaching and medicine, but they were banned from being lawyers or architects. Men were more paid, in some case they earned double for the same work.

3. IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR CONDITION

4. There was an emancipation of women:
THE IMPROVEMENTS OF THEIR CONDITIONS IN THE 19th CENTURY
- explain why we can say that there was in the 19th century an improvement of the social, economic and political rights of women?
There was an emancipation of women:
 divorced women could keep their children. (to bring up, to raise).
 Can take legal actions on her own behalf. To sue sb for.
 Even if she was deserted, she can keep her earnings.
 Receive a pension from her husband if he has deserted. Men were obliged to ensure his family a good life.
 In 1869 they could vote in local elections, and in 1894 they had the right to vote in parish and district.
 New jobs opportunities: teachers, shop workers, secretaries in offices… => they reached higher status than those of their parents. (middle-class).

5. - Nevertheless, did they have the same right as men?
 They were barred from some jobs.
 They could not vote to national elections.
 They were less paid than men.
- Why did some women come to the conclusion that they should gain the right to vote not to remain second-class citizens?
 because they will elect MP's who will take care of her claims, demands.
 They will vote new laws for the interest of women.
 To fight against a patriarchal society.

6. THE WEIGH UP THE PROSE AND CONS: SHALL WE
IN FAVOUR OR AGAINST GIVING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE
A DEBATE IN THE PARLIAMENT
THE WEIGH UP THE PROSE AND CONS: SHALL WE
GIVE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE?
Organiser un débat:
- Deux groupes: Un pour (Wighs) / Un contre (Tories).
- 2-3 modérateurs (Speakers).
- Expliquer fonctionnement du parlement britannique et mise en oeuvre du débat dans la classe (chaque élève a une fiche de vocabulaire).

7. THE DIFFERENT MOVEMENTS: THE SUFFRAGISTS AND THE SUFFRAGETTES

8. THE SUFFRAGIST MOVEMENT
Millicent Fawcett addressing the crowd in Hyde Park, London, 1913,

9. A suffragette poster 1905

10. THE SUFFRAGETTE MOVEMENT
A suffragette poster, 1913.

11. The death of Emily Davison, a suffragette campaigner, 5 June 1913

12. THE REACTION TO DIRECT ACTIONS: THE CAT AND MOUSE ACT 1911
In 1913, the “Cat and Mouse Act” was passed:
hunger strike women were released, but when they regained their strength and were better, they were sent back to prison;
=> the gvt played with militants exactly as a cat does with a mouse.

13. THE ANTI-SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT
Mrs Humphry Ward, leader of the Anti-Suffrage League

14. HOW EFFECTIVE WERE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SUFFRAGISTS
AND THE SUFFRAGETTES?
- Travail présentation orale: apprendre à relever et classer les informations + élaborer un plan (la problématique est donnée) et présentation orale.
- Réflexion sur la question de la violence et de la démocratie: La violence est-elle légitime en démocratie? Peut-on « récompenser » les actions violentes? ...
- Devoir maison: « If the Suffragette movement had been less militant and more peaceful, women would have been given the right to vote by 1914 ? ».
Conclusion: A controversial debate. Women were given the right to vote in 1918 and 1928, thanks to WWI. But the campaigns played a great role and gave publicity to the cause.

15. EVALUATION: - Introduce the document.
- Who were the suffragettes? What were their aims? What kind of tactics did they use?
- Describe and comment the document: why is it relevant of the suffragette’s tactics?
- According to you, was the Suffragette's tactic efficient? (Explain)

16. A suffragette poster laying the blame on Prime Minister Asquith for Parliament not granting female suffrage, 1909.
Left: citizen Asq-th: “Born with privilege of birth up with democratic rule!”
Right: Monseigneur Asq-th: “the rights of government belong to the aristocrats by birth. No liberty of equality for women!”