Higher History Britain: Women‘s Suffrage

1. Higher HistoryBritain: Women‘s Suffrage Why did women get the vote in Britain in 1918?

2. We are learning to… Explain why women received the vote in 1918 I can… Build up notes on the topic Plan a 22 mark essay Pass a 22 mark timed essay

3. Introduction • In 1918, the Representation of the People Act gave women in Britain the right to vote for the first time • These women had to over 30 plus be married, own property or a University graduate • Historians debate the reasons why women were given the vote • It is your job to explain all of the reasons; but also to judge which are more important than others

4. Background (need for intro) • During the 19th century many laws were passed which made Britain more democratic by enfranchising men, but women were never given the right to vote in elections • Most men, including those in government, believed women were uneducated, unworldly, fickle, immature and understood little about the world of politics, economics and business • A woman’s place was believed to be at home in the role of wife and mother; men and women were seen as operating in separate ‘spheres’ or worlds; men in politics and women in motherhood • Women were largely viewed as second class citizens in politics, business and the economy and incapable of participation in these ‘male pursuits’ • The majority of MPs believed that a woman’s husband or father voted for her and therefore the exclusion of women from politics was justifiable

5. The arguments for women getting the vote ‘The Factors’ • Changing Attitudes to women in society • The Suffragists • The Suffragettes • War Work • Example of Other countries You should aim to cover at least 3 of these in your essay; but you must know all of them in case it is the isolated factor.

6. Changing Attitudes to women : Knowledge Even towards the late 19th century things had been improving for women slightly in terms of the law & their opportunities. • In 1882 & 1893 Womens Property Acts gave women full legal control of all property they owned at marriage or that they had inherited or earned whilst married • In the 1870s universal primary education became compulsory for boys and girls • University became more accessible for women with many universities allowing women through their doors for the first time to study degree courses and there were even female colleges, i.e. Girton College at Cambridge • From 1894, women could vote in local elections if they paid taxes and could stand as a candidate for elections • ‘white collar jobs’ involving typing and clerical work in offices and banks opened up and created career opportunities for women who tended to be preferred by employers; many women entered nursing and teaching professions too

7. Changing Attitudes to women : Analysis Analysis (basic) • This helped women get the vote because the status of women in society was improving as they gained more rights and prejudiced attitudes of males were improving towards women • This helped women get the vote because women were proving that there was nothing to fear by giving women the vote – they were reversing the view that women were too stupid, irresponsible and immature for politics

8. Changing Attitudes to women : Analysis Analysis (+) • However, even though women were making some progress they were still expected to leave their jobs when they were married (the marriage bar)and women were not actually awarded degrees by universities • However, the numbers of women serving on local councils was very small – only 24 out of 11,140 which shows that even with societal change, participation of women in politics was still low • However, many middle class women cared little for women's rights and were horrified that women wanted to advance their position in society – even Queen Victoria called women’s rights a ‘mad, wicked folly’ in 1870

9. A (up to 3/6) and A+ (6/6) A: This shows that… This is important because… This helped women get the vote because… A+ On the one hand…however on the other hand… However…

10. Task: write your paragraph on Changing Attitudes to women Success Criteria • A topic sentence i.e. ‘ There were some changes in attitudes towards women which helped them seem more suitable to vote. (all) • At least two points of knowledge (all) – new point, new sentence • At least One point of Analysis + ‘On the one hand…however on the other hand…(some)

11. The Suffragists: Knowledge • The National Union of Womens’ Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) was founded in 1897 under the leadership of Millicent Fawcett and campaigned for womens’ suffrage • They believed in moderate, peaceful tactics or ‘peaceful persuasion’ to win the vote for middle class women and were nicknamed ‘The Suffragists’ • They used a campaign of meetings, pamphlets, petitions and parliamentary bills which were introduced by sympathetic backbench MPs • Their membership was around 53,000 by 1914 and they reached agreements of mutual support with some male Trade Unions and the new Labour Party

14. Suffragists: Analysis Analysis (basic) • This helped women get the vote because The suffragists impressed many British people, including thousands of men, and showed that they were intelligent, capable and trustworthy women capable of organising a successful nationwide campaign • This helped women get the vote because The NUWSS were successful in winning the support and respect of many important MPs and future PM David Lloyd George and have been credited with turning opinion in parliament towards women's’ suffrage

15. Suffragists: Analysis Analysis (+) • However, many historians have claimed that the suffragist campaign was tedious and slow moving and was easily ignored by politicians and the suffragists were never able to achieve the publicity of the Suffragettes • However,, some historians claim that the NUWSS membership was only so high in 1914 because many women had become disillusioned with the Suffragettes during their ‘wild period’ and switched groups

16. Task: write your paragraph on Suffragists Success Criteria • A topic sentence i.e. ‘ The Suffragists were also important in achieving the vote for women. (all) • At least two points of knowledge (all) • 2 points of Analysis + ‘On the one hand…(give a positive) however on the other hand…(give a negative) (all)

17. The Suffragettes: Knowledge • Emmeline Pankhurst was a NUWSS member who became tired of the slow progress and formed the Womens Social and Political Union (WSPU) with her daughters Christabel and Sylvia in 1903 • They had the motto ‘deeds not words’ and wanted to use more militant tactics to breathe new life into the campaign – disrupting meetings, heckling MPs, chalking slogans on streets • In 1905 they made headlines when Sir Edward Grey a government minister was heckled noisily and the two WSPU members responsible were arrested following a struggle and prisoned – the Daily Mail nicknamed them The Suffragettes

18. The Suffragettes: Knowledge • When anti women’s suffrage HH Asquith became Prime Minister in 1908, the Suffragettes entered their ‘wild period’ as a protest • They smashed windows, poured acid into letterboxes, carried out arson attacks, sent letter bombs and security was tightened up across the country i.e. at Holyrood Palace • In 1909, Suffragette Marion Dunlop started a hunger strike campaign in prison designed to embarrass the government if or when a Suffragette died in their care – women were violently force fed by doctors through tubes • In June 1913, Suffragette Emily Davison died after running out in front of the King’s Horse Anmer at the Epsom Derby whilst waving a flag of Green, White & Violet (GWV=Give Women Votes)

21. Suffragettes: Analysis Analysis (basic) • This helped women get the vote because the Suffragettes succeeded in their aim of publicity; they regularly made national headlines, were talked about in parliament and were almost unavoidable through their violent methods • This helped women get the vote because The Suffragettes certainly caused much trouble for the government and did force the government to act to try and save face – the Cat and Mouse Act was passed in 1913 to let hunger striking women out of jail temporarily until their health recovered • This helped women get the vote because Force-feeding in prison and the death of first martyr Emily Davison gained a lot of sympathy from the British public – many people felt sorry for them and felt that the campaign was getting out of hand • This helped women get the vote because The lengths the Suffragettes went to gained support and admiration from many people across the country and some people may have believed women should get the vote in order to end the disruptive militant campaign

22. Suffragettes: Analysis+ Analysis (+) • However, many historians have claimed that the Suffragettes actually held back progress for women because they reinforced the idea that women were irresponsible, immature and unable to cope with responsibility • However, Many MPs were furious at the law-breaking campaign of the WSPU and changed their mind about giving women the vote – Lord Robert Cecil said in parliament the Suffragettes had brought disgrace upon women • However,Some historians argue that the Suffragettes also undermined the progress that the Suffragists had made between 1897 and 1903 and actually caused votes for women to regress due to their bad behaviour

23. ON THE ONE HAND… • It cannot be denied that the Suffragettes succeeded in their aim of publicity; they regularly made national headlines, were talked about in parliament and were almost unavoidable through their violent methods • The Suffragettes certainly caused much trouble for the government and did force the government to act to try and save face – the Cat and Mouse Act was passed in 1913 to let hunger striking women out of jail temporarily until their health recovered • Force-feeding in prison and the death of first martyr Emily Davison gained a lot of sympathy from the British public – many people felt sorry for them and felt that the campaign was getting out of hand • The lengths the Suffragettes went to gained support and admiration from many people across the country and some people may have believed women should get the vote in order to end the disruptive militant campaign HOWEVER ON THE OTHER HAND… • However, many historians have claimed that the Suffragettes actually held back progress for women because they reinforced the idea that women were irresponsible, immature and unable to cope with responsibility • Many MPs were incensed at the law-breaking campaign of the WSPU and changed their mind about giving women the vote – Lord Robert Cecil said in parliament the Suffragettes had brought disgrace upon women • Some historians argue that the Suffragettes also undermined the progress that the Suffragists had made between 1897 and 1903 and actually caused votes for women to regress due to their bad behaviour

24. Task: write your paragraph on Suffragettes Success Criteria • A topic sentence i.e. ‘ The Suffragettes were also important in achieving the vote for women. (all) • At least two points of knowledge (all) • Two points of Analysis + ‘On the one hand…however on the other hand…(some)

25. War Work: Knowledge • Two days after war was declared on Germany in August 1914, both suffrage groups announced a suspension of their political campaigns for the duration of the war • The WSPU were given £2000 by the government to stage a march and a propaganda campaign demanding ‘Womens’ Right to Serve’ and help the war effort • The Suffragettes even changed the name of their newspaper from The Suffragette to Britannicaand they focussed on patriotism rather than feminism for the duration of the war • Suffragettes also started the ‘white feather’ campaign to encourage recruitment, using them as symbols of cowardice on men who were not in uniform

26. War Work:Analysis Analysis (basic) • This helped women get the vote because Suffrage campaigns gained support and respect due their willingness to get behind the war effort and ‘muck in’ rather than potentially sabotaging Britain in the war by continuing their campaign Analysis (+) • However, the Suffragettes were criticised by some for their sudden willingness to cooperate with the government and the pacifist Womens’ Freedom League and some more extreme Suffragettes accused them of betrayal

27. War Work: Knowledge Women’s Work - Knowledge • Women's war work was important to Britain’s ability to fight and win and women stepped into the gaps where around 3million men went to fight • Women worked as conductors on trams & trains, as typists and secretaries and 20,000 women worked in government departments • Over 700,000 women worked in munitions where explosions were commonplace and TNT poisoning caused women to be nicknamed ‘canaries’ (around 400 women died from TNT poisoning during WWI) • By 1917, 25,000 were working on farms with around 23,000 In the ‘Womens’ Land Army’ growing food for those at home and soldiers at war

28. War Work:Analysis Analysis (basic) • This helped women get the vote because work that women did was of major national importance and everyone in Britain was thankful to the nation’s women for the role they had played in winning the war- it was believed Britain couldn’t have won without the women • This helped women get the vote because there were ‘The Nation thanks the women’ billboards across the country and newspapers called women ‘heroines’ which could be considered evidence that women were given the vote at the end of the war as a reward and thank you for their efforts • Historians have put forward the ‘reward theory’ – that women were given the vote as a reward for their hard work in the war and the 1918 timing of the vote and end of war might support that – the government certainly would have felt the need to do something as the vast majority of women were sacked when men returned from war

29. War Work: Analysis Analysis (+) • However,, it does seem a strange ‘reward’ because the women given the vote were 30+ whereas the majority of women who did war work were in their 20s so not actually rewarded with the vote • However,, somehistorians have said that the reward theory is ‘too simple’ as a lot of the groundwork for women getting the vote was done by the suffrage groups and pre war changes and the war was merely a ‘catalyst’ which served to change the views of politicians who still opposed women’s suffrage • Other historians have also said that the vote was given to women in 1918 not as a reward but to ‘appease’ the Suffrage movements and avoid a return to the pre war law breaking and militancy, rather than due to war work

30. On the one hand… • Historians have put the ‘reward theory’ – that women were given the vote as a reward for their hard work in the war and the 1918 timing of the vote and end of war might support that – the government certainly would have felt the need to do something as the vast majority of women were sacked when men returned from war • The work that women did was of major national importance and everyone in Britain was thankful to the nation’s women for the role they had played in winning the war- it was believed Britain couldn’t have won without the women • There was also ‘The Nation thanks the women’ billboards across the country and newspapers called women ‘heroines’ which could be considered evidence that women were given the vote at the end of the war as a reward and thank you for their efforts On the other hand… • However, it does seem a strange ‘reward’ because the women given the vote were 30+ whereas the majority of women who did war work were in their 20s so not actually rewarded with the vote • Other historians have said that the reward theory is ‘too simple’ as a lot of the groundwork for women getting the vote was done by the suffrage groups and pre war changes and the war was merely a ‘catalyst’ which served to change the views of politicians who still opposed women’s suffrage • Other historians have also said that the vote was given to women in 1918 not as a reward but to ‘appease’ the Suffrage movements and avoid a return to the pre war law breaking and militancy, rather than due to war work

31. Task: write your paragraph on War Work Success Criteria • A topic sentence i.e. ‘ Their work in the First World War also important in achieving the vote for women. • Knowledge – suffrage campaigns • Knowledge – munitions • Knowledge – other examples of war work • At least two examples of Analysis + ‘On the one hand war work helped women get the vote because…however on the other hand…(some)

32. Example of Other countries • During the 19th century, Britain saw itself as the ‘cradle of democracy’ and one of the most politically advanced societies in the world; Britain’s empire included around 1/3 of the world – colonies such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada – ‘The Sun never set on the Empire’ • However, more democratic nations around the world had declared women’s suffrage much earlier on. For example, New Zealand granted women’s suffrage in 1893, Finland in 1872 and Norway in 1907. • Some U.S States had already granted women the vote such as Washington in 1910; California in 1911 and Arizona in 1912

33. Example of Other countries : Analysis Analysis (basic) • This helped women get the vote because as the most developed nation in the world and a ‘Great Power’ it was embarrassing for Britain that other countries appeared to be overtaking Britain in terms of democracy, particularly when the government argued that WWI was fought to protect democracy in Europe – Britain could not ‘lag behind’ • This helped women get the vote because the fact that women had been enfranchised abroad, particularly in colonies like New Zealand, may have added pressure to politicians and certainly given hope and renewed enthusiasm to the suffrage campaigns –

34. Example of Other countries : Analysis Analysis (+) • However, there exists no evidence to say that foreign influence played any part in the government’s decision to extend the franchise in 1918 and no evidence to say it was even discussed by MPs in parliament

35. Example of Other countries : Paragraph TS - It has been argued that the example of other countries helped women gain the vote. K – British Empire/ Britain as the ‘cradle of democracy’ K – other countries/ U.S. States who had given vote A –At least one point of Analysis + ‘On the one hand this helped women get the vote because…however on the other hand…

36. Consolidation • A good idea when you have taken all your notes for a topic is to create a condensed revision guide for the essay • This might be a mind map, picture map, bullet points etc. but should fit on one page • Do this for homework (example on next page)

38. Planning and writing your first essayHigher History

39. Women – Practice essay question2016 Paper The part played by women in the war effort was the main reason why some women received the vote in 1918. How valid is this view? 20 marks

40. Women – Practice essay question2016 Paper The part played by women in the war effort was the main reason why some women received the vote in 1918. How valid is this view? 22 marks Topic – why women received the vote Isolated factor – war effort

41. 2018 Women Question

42. A good essay has; • An introduction (3) • Clear paragraphs • Evidence (facts) (6) • Analysis (explanation) (6) • A conclusion (3) • Evaluation (prioritising/ explaining the importance) - 4

43. Planning your essay – what comes first? • Introduction • The factor the question identifies • Other relevant factors • Conclusion

44. Essay Questions • Women is an example of an isolated factor essay – this means the SQA will ask you whether women got the vote because of a specific factor (one of the 5 we cover) • You must talk about the factor in the question BUT you do not need to agree it is the most important • Examples To what extent was the extension of the franchise to women in 1918 due to the suffrage movements? How far can it be argued that women received the vote in 1918 due to their war work? ‘The extension of the franchise to women in 1918 was due to the work of the Suffragists’. Discuss.

45. Introduction – 3 step plan • Background (give 2-3 sentences of what life was like for women before the changes you will discuss) ‘During the 19th century…’ • Factors (what are the factors in the essay? There were many important factors in women receiving the vote such as… do not list – describe each factor individually • Argument (what will you be arguing is most important? Mention factor in Q) Although *factor in question* was important, it can be argued the most important factor was … because… OR *Factor in the question* can be argued to be the most important factor because…

46. The arguments for women getting the vote ‘The Factors’ • Changing Attitudes to women in society • The Suffragists • The Suffragettes • War Work • Example of Other countries You should aim to cover at least 3 of these in your essay; but you must know all of them in case it is the isolated factor.

47. Conclusion – 4 step plan • In conclusion, there were many reasons for women receiving the vote in 1918. • On the one hand… (you should take one less important factor here and explain why it was less important) • On the other hand… (now you should do the same with another more important key factor to balance your argument) • Overall, the most important factor was… because… • It was also the most important factor because… *2 pieces evidence*

48. Evaluation • A good way to approach trying to get the final 4 marks for evaluation is to take your factors (5 in this case) and rank them from most important to least important • Try to come up with a reason Why each is in that place (not why it is important but why it is more or less important) • A priority diagram can be a good technique to use – try to relate every factor back to your most important

50. Evaluation E1 and E2 - 2 marks can be gained from making evaluative comments which relate to individual factors Example – Upon evaluation, women’s war work is the most important factor in getting the vote because WWI was a pivotal event of the 20th century and it finally proved to all Brits that women were useful, needed, responsible and the war would not have been won without them. NB – You must be saying something new in your evaluation, not repeating your analysis or doing ‘mini conclusions’