Changes during WWI

There were many political changes taking place during WWI which historians argue were important to women gaining the vote. For example: PM Asquith was replaced by David Lloyd George who was more pro-suffrage. DLG also brought other pro-suffrage MPs into the cabinet. E.g Bonar Law.

Changes during WWI Suffragette violence had stopped: Many MPs did not want a return of Suffragette violence & so were more keen to appease them by including them in future reforms. Also, the government would not be seen to be ‘giving in’ to violence of Suffragettes but rather awarding the vote because they wanted to. (Make government look positive, not the Suffragettes).

Changes during WWI ‘Mother of Democracy’ GB had been fighting in the name of democracy but did not practice this at home. Other countries now had female suffrage, e.g. New Zealand, Denmark, it was embarrassing for GB, the ‘ Mother of Democracy’.

Changes during WWI Party Loyalty? During the war a coalition government was created, so parties weren’t as worried about one party benefiting from female voters. i.e. Many women may feel sense of loyalty to the party in power that was granting women votes.

Changes during WWI Returning Soldiers: Soldiers returning from war would have been denied the vote as they would not have met the 12 month property qualification. -This meant that the government would have had to review the voting system. -During discussion of the above, women’s suffrage was raised and subsequently included in the 1918 Act.

Why did women get the vote? Your task – You have to convince the judge that attitudes to women (before the war) were changing and this helped women get the vote.

POINT Attitudes to women were changing and this helped women get the vote. EVIDENCE Attitudes to women in politics were changing. In 1869 the municipal franchise allowed women to vote in local elections. From women were able to vote on local, town and county councils. ARGUMENT This was important because their involvement in politics showed that it was outdated to argue that women could not be wives and mothers and be involved in politics. Also it acted as stepping stones to gaining the vote in national elections. EVIDENCE The Married Women’s Property Acts (1870 & 1882) allowed married women to keep up to £200 in earnings and personal property. The second act allowed them control over all property & money they brought to the marriage. It also allowed them to carry on with whatever trade or business they had worked in before they were married. ARGUMENT This was important because it provided some women with financial independence. This, in itself demonstrates a significant change in how women were viewed because never before had they been viewed as fit to control money.

POINT Attitudes to women were changing and this helped women get the vote. EVIDENCE Attitudes to women’s role in education also changed. For example, the Education Act (1870) enabled women to stand for election to school boards. Also, boys and girls were entitled to basic education from 1870 and some universities allowed female students. For example, in 1879 women’s colleges were being founded at Oxford University. ARGUMENT This was important because stereotypical attitudes of women being intellectually inferior were being challenged. Indeed, it could not longer be argued that because women lacked education, they were not intelligent enough to vote. EVIDENCE Positive changes were also taking place in education. Women became employed in jobs with more responsibility e.g. clerical or typing. ARGUMENT This was important because it gave women a new sense of responsibility and a desire to improve their opportunities. It has also been argued that by giving women better employment opportunities, a greater desire for the vote was encouraged. Yet, it is important to note that women were paid less than men and still denied certain jobs e.g. medicine. HOWEVER although attitudes to women were changing and making it harder to deny women the vote, it was very slow and their political power remained limited. In 1914 there were 11,000 town councillors and only 24 were women. In light of this, it is unlikely that women would have been granted the vote in 1918 purely as a result of changing attitudes to women.