Women’s Suffrage Revision

Role of women in WW1 Evidence

Analysis: link to women gaining the vote
Helped to Order of the white feather Helped war effort, also could
recruit men into threaten to stop if not eventually
the army Mother’s union given the vote
Worked in Women showed that they were
traditional men’s equally capable and competent as
jobs (economic men at doing important and
role) sometimes dangerous jobs
previously only held by men, and
therefore it was felt that they should
be given the same political rights as
men.

Womens’ work during the war

changed the view of both politicians
and men about women, shifting
attitudes and because many men,
therefore, supported womens’
suffrage, because they were a large
part of the current electorate, which
made politicians more likely to
support women’s suffrage so as to
gain votes.
Served in the Served as nurses Contributed to war effort
army Served in WAAC – Women’s army auxiliary Jobs previously held by men
corps Jobs which required physical
Worked in salvation army strength therefore disencouraged
stereotypes of women
Role of the Suffragettes
Peaceful tactics Hyde park rally 1908, over 250,000 people, Successfully won over many people,
largest political demonstration ever held in including men
Britain as of then

Other Even if there was a 4-year period

during the war where they stopped
activities, parliament voted in favour
of suffrage before the war before the
 PM dissolved it, so their actions
before they stopped their operations
also helped to gain the vote.
Violent tactics Media coverage was extremely sympathetic to Brought the issue of womens
the way they were treated in prison suffrage to the public eye and
therefore politicians. What were
50,000 people were at Emily Davidson’s funeral debatedly acts of terrorism may
have been violent and brutal, but
they gave publicity and attention to
the issue.

The treatment they received as a

result of their violent tactics gained
public sympathy
Role of the Suffragists/political campaigns
Tactics of the Meeting with MPs More rational.
NUWSS Party affiliation
(Suffragists) Appearing before committees on the matter Longer term approach to the issue
Peaceful rallies and protests than the suffragettes, so they may
have inspired the suffragettes and
fought a longer, more successful,
fight
Impact on Parliament voted in favour of women’s suffrage More rational tactics such as talking
politicians in 19 to and pressuring politicians, and
their more peaceful tactics may have
gained more respect from politicians.

The Representation of the People Act, which was passed in 1917 by a large majority, and became law in 1918 gave all men over 21 the vote, however it only
gave women over 30 who were householders or married to householders, so roughly 8 million in total, the vote.