U2 - Woman and the Vote Flashcards
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
The Representation of the people act decreed:
- All women over 30 who were married to property owners or who owned property themselves were allowed to vote in Parliamentary Elections - Feb 6th 1918
- This enfranchised 8 million women
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
Political Parties - The Conservatives Party
- Also known as Tories
- Represented the interests of the great landowning families
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
Political Parties - The Liberal Party
- Also known as Whigs
- Represented the new middle class the same as working class voters
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
Political Parties - The Labour Party
- Many working class voters wanted their own party this is how Labour was formed
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
What about women?
- In 1850, women were thought as seconds class citizens
- Thought as inferior mentally and physically
- Women were paid less than men, tended to less skilled work
- Excluded from many professions e.g. law
- Thought ‘a woman’s was at the home’
- Couldn’t vote in general elections
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
It was thought that women were (vote)
- Women would lose their femininity in politics
- Women weren’t well educated enough to vote
- If they became involved in politics the home would suffer
- They were too emotional to handle responsibility to vote
- Did not fight for country so didn’t deserve the vote
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
Opposition on women’s suffrage
Before 1900 most people were against women’s suffrage
- “Only the most undesirable women want this right”: Winston Churchill, 1895
- “this mad, wicked folly of Women’s rights”: Queen Victoria, 1871
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
Public Beliefs at the time of woman and the vote
- The “true woman” was pure, delicate, frail and passive
- Men saw themselves as the dominators of the Public Sphere: place of work and politics
- Women’s brains were smaller than men’s
- Women were too emotional
- Women were the Angel of the home
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
What Political Parties thought about woman and the vote: Conservatives
- Against women voting, worried they would vote for Liberal or Labour
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
What Political Parties thought about woman and the vote: Liberals
- Many favoured votes for women
- However feared that if the vote was given to woman owning property they would vote conservatives: like husband
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
What Political Parties thought about woman and the vote: Labour
- Started in 1900
- Were in favour of female suffrage but wanted all working class men to get the vote first
When did the ‘Votes for Women’ campaign grow?
After 1850
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
Reasons for the Growth of the Women’s Suffrage Movement
- Electoral Reform - More men were getting the vote, but not women
- Emergence of a small class of better off, educated women to led the movement
- The position of woman - suffered inequality in law, work and society
Suffragists (NUWSS)
Origin and overall statement what they group did
- Don’t use their fists
- Origin: 1897 - First UK Suffrage Group
- Brought together women’s suffrage from all over Britain into one large organisation
Suffragists (NUWSS)
Organisation
- Broad based
- Included a wide range of opinions
- Male supporters, radical Suffragists: attempted to win working class support
Suffragists (NUWSS)
General Points
- The FIRST and BIGGEST women’s suffrage movement
- Regarded as most SUCCESSFUL
Suffragists (NUWSS)
Members
- 1907: 6,000 members
- 1913: 50,000 member
NUWSS members grew considerably and was much bigger than WSPU (Suffragettes)
Suffragists (NUWSS)
Peaceful Methods
- Meetings
- Pamphlets
- Newspaper articles
Suffragists (NUWSS)
Example of a method
- Pilgrimage 1913: Held Pilgrimage to Hyde Park to show govt. they had support for vote - July 26th
- Around 50,000 women went
Suffragists (NUWSS)
Analysis - Success
- Gained support of many MPs
- Large membership and propaganda meant they had a wide influence across Britain. Benefits of male membership
- Impressed people with their dignity and organisation
Suffragists (NUWSS)
Analysis - Failed
- Failed to gain the vote despite no less than 4 attempts to introduce women’s suffrage bills to parliament
- Peaceful methods easy to ignore, By 1905 the press were virtually ignoring them
- Lost essential political support from liberals from 1910
Suffragists (NUWSS)
Historiography
Historian Martin Pugh argues that because of the suffragists quiet persuasion many prominent MPs supports them (Lloyd George). But some MPs only gave the ‘lukewarm’ support
