Register to read the introduction…
The first of the movements was the Suffragists, which was led by Millicent Fawcett. The aim of these campaigners was to use peaceful tactics to demonstrate that they were derserving for the vote. Their tactics involved regular meetings, issuing pamphlets and frequent Parliamentary bills introduced by friendly MP's that the Suffragists had persuaded to support them. The Suffragists had a vast amount of support as by 1919 its members had risen to 50,000. Countless people were impressed by the dignified and well organised manour in which the Suffragists conducted themselves. One of the MPs that was won over by the Suffragists was Lloyd George and this is argued by the Historian Martin Pugh. Their quiet persuasion gained alot of support. Also, only two weeks before the out break of the World War, the Suffragists were negotiating with the Government over their right to vote. However, there was alot of anti-suffrage from people, for example Queen Victoria and working class
…show more content…
The right to vote was not given to those women who were involved in the war work and is sarcasticly seen as a "Strange Reward" by Paula Bartley, another Historian. The vote was given to women of the age of thirty or above, those were the women who done little to help in the war. Also, it is viewed by Martin Pugh that the "votes for women" was coming, perhaps even before the war. Britain would not have wanted to seem undemocratic in comparison to New Zealand, Australia or Canada. In addition, Bartley also informs us that pre-war suffrage campaigns had high profile. Women in France aided in the war, yet they did not achieve the vote after their efforts, but they did not have the Suffragists or the Suffragettes.Therefore, women in France had wait until 1945 to gain the vote as there was no suffrage campaign to force the matter onto the Politicians. Pugh says that it would be too "simplistic" to say that the womens war effort was the main cause of women gaining the vote. Therefore, women did aid a massive amount in the war and were seen by many people, such as the Prime Minister Asquith, as more deserving of the vote, which means the change in attitudes prior to the war was not the only influence on legislation being passed by …show more content…
On the one hand, women were now viewed more deserving of the right to vote as they were better educated and proven their abilities in new white collar jobs and in local politics. On the other hand, the Suffrage movements put the issue of votes for women on the political map. The Suffragists gained support, including that of many MPs, through their dignified methods of protest. The Suffragettes gained a mass amount of support from the hunger strikes and gained a lot of sympathy and publicity for the cause. Also, as argued by historian Marwick’s Reward Theory, women received the vote in 1918 as a ‘thank-you’ for their work in WW1. Overall, changing attitudes towards women prior to WW1 was one reason for women receiving the vote but it is also evident that the suffrage movements and WW1 had a role to
The right to vote was not given to those women who were involved in the war work and is sarcasticly seen as a "Strange Reward" by Paula Bartley, another Historian. The vote was given to women of the age of thirty or above, those were the women who done little to help in the war. Also, it is viewed by Martin Pugh that the "votes for women" was coming, perhaps even before the war. Britain would not have wanted to seem undemocratic in comparison to New Zealand, Australia or Canada. In addition, Bartley also informs us that pre-war suffrage campaigns had high profile. Women in France aided in the war, yet they did not achieve the vote after their efforts, but they did not have the Suffragists or the Suffragettes.Therefore, women in France had wait until 1945 to gain the vote as there was no suffrage campaign to force the matter onto the Politicians. Pugh says that it would be too "simplistic" to say that the womens war effort was the main cause of women gaining the vote. Therefore, women did aid a massive amount in the war and were seen by many people, such as the Prime Minister Asquith, as more deserving of the vote, which means the change in attitudes prior to the war was not the only influence on legislation being passed by …show more content…
On the one hand, women were now viewed more deserving of the right to vote as they were better educated and proven their abilities in new white collar jobs and in local politics. On the other hand, the Suffrage movements put the issue of votes for women on the political map. The Suffragists gained support, including that of many MPs, through their dignified methods of protest. The Suffragettes gained a mass amount of support from the hunger strikes and gained a lot of sympathy and publicity for the cause. Also, as argued by historian Marwick’s Reward Theory, women received the vote in 1918 as a ‘thank-you’ for their work in WW1. Overall, changing attitudes towards women prior to WW1 was one reason for women receiving the vote but it is also evident that the suffrage movements and WW1 had a role to