Why Women Failed to Gain the Right to Vote Between 1900 and 1914

Why Women Failed to Gain the Right to Vote Between 1900 and 1914

In the 19th century, the voting system was classed as un-equal. In

some parts of the world men could vote for who they wanted to govern

them, whereas in other parts, only small groups of men could depending

on their wealth and eminence. The status of women in England at this

time was simple; they stayed at home, cleaned, cooked, cared for their

children and took care of their husbands. Women were not allowed to

vote or have any say in the way their country was run, or whom it was

run by.

Many women resented this way of life. They too paid taxes, owned

properties and land just as the men did, but they didn't get the same

treatment or the same amount of privileges as the men recieved. They

believed that women who paid such taxes should have some say in how it

was spent. Women who owned property wanted the same rights as a man

who had property, e.g the right to vote. They also believed that they

were just as capable at running parliment, or fighting for their

country as males were. As a result of these strong opinions two

campaign groups were formed; The Suffragists- which was founded by Mrs

Millicent Garrett in 1897 and The Suffragettes-which was founded by

Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst in 1903. Both groups' aim was to gain more

respect and the right to vote.

Both groups failed to gain the right to vote between 1900 and

1914.There are many reasons suggested as to why this was, the first

was thought to be the actions that the Women took, this was said to

have severely damaged their reputation and the amount of respect they

received.

The Suffragists were known for the...

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...ragettes took outrageous, militant action setting fire to railway

carriages and bombarding people with their violent protests. I think

that if both groups had come together and helped eachother, if they

had combined both types of protest and campaign they might have been

taken a little more seriously and might have been listened to. What

they wanted was to be payed some attention and be allowed to express

their views and opinions without being told they were stupid or

unworthy of being able to change something they strongly believed in.

I think their will power and determination to do this tells us a lot

about how much they wanted things to change, they didn't want to be

"house wives" any longer, all that they wanted was to gain more

respect women were not worthless and they wanted to prove it.

I think they did this.