First World War and British Women's Right to Vote

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First World War and British Women's Right to Vote

The war was responsible for sending many men away from home, leaving

their jobs, families etc. As men were conscripted to fight, the

opportunity for women to fill men's work placements opened. When the

war started Suffragettes stopped campaigning so that concentration

could be paid to the war effort.

Source A written before the war by Emmeline Pankhurst who had huge

following is saying that if women get the right to vote, it would

allow women's point of view to be put forward. This is was what

suffragists wanted, their views to be listened to and to have a little

say on the running of the country and felt that the vote had such

importance it could give this. Male politicians felt that the women's

view was better off at home looking after the family.

Source B is an argument put forward by women saying that they could

have high class and important jobs with many responsibilities while

still not having the right to vote. The argument is saying that bad

men such as convicts, slave owners, drunkards or handicapped men were

still allowed to vote. This argument can be understood as women being

less respected than these type of men. I think that this was a good

argument for suffrage as politicians were making laws against men like

this and thought they were scum of society. Cartoons were a favourable

way for suffragists to campaign.

Source C is argument against votes for women. It was made in a speech

by Lord Curzon, a conservative leader. He argues that because few men

currently voted, a law to allow women's suffrage would mean most

voters would be women. Another argument put across in the speech is

that if there was a war, men have to fight but women don't, which is

not equal. As this was written before the war I think Curzon's

attitude to women helping with the war would have changed as women did

make notable contributions to the war effort.

Source D is the cover of war worker magazine printed in 1917.

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