The Contagious Diseases Acts and their repeal Flashcards
How many prostitutes were there in Victorian England by 1869?
Between 50,000 and 368,000 (potentially making it the 4th largest female profession)
Who was worried by the scale of prostitution?
Doctors - worried about how prostitution spread venereal diseases through the male population Upper classes - 'Angel of the home' stereotype meant Upper class men increasingly went to prostitutes
What war highlighted the effect of venereal diseases?
The Crimean War (1853-6) - poor health of soldiers widely reported
By 1864 venereal diseases accounted for 1 in 3 sick cases in the army
What did the Acts stipulate?
1864 Act - Allowed police, in naval ports and garrison towns to arrest prostitutes and order them to undergo an internal examination
1866 Act - Extended 1864 act, prostitutes in these places now subjected to compulsory 3 monthly examinations
1869 Act - Extended to all garrison towns, allowed suspected prostitutes to be locked up for 5 days before being examined
Who were the key figures in the repeal of the CDA in 1886?
Josephine Butler - Travelled 3700 miles and addressed 99 meetings in her first year, campaigned in by-elections (excrement thrown at her etc.), charismatic leader, spearheaded the movement, inspired many.
James Stansfield - 1874, lost cabinet seat, could fully focus on repeal, collated scientific stats to shows Acts were failing. Effectively lobbied in parliament, other MPs responded to him
Henry Wilson - Hard-working campaigner, skilled organiser, cultivated support of the liberal party, increased petitioning (18,000 petitions signed between 1870 and 1886)
Aside from its leaders, what else were the key factors in the repeal of the CDA?
Ladies National association - Formed in 1869, signed petitions, spoke in front of audiences, used newspapers to spread their message (e.g. ‘Ladies Protest’ signed by 124 members, published in the Daily News)
Parliamentary Support - Most Liberal MPs were in support of repeal following 1880, responded to lobbying of Wilson and Stansfield, crucial in making repeal a parliamentary issue
