Votes for women

Deeds not words was a motto used by the

• Suffragists

• Right to Serve campaign during WW1

• Women's Social Political Union

• Backbench MPs who supported votes for women

Answer explanation

Women's Social and Political Union or WSPU were also known as the suffragettes

Explain why the militant methods of the Suffragettes divided opinion.

Answer explanation

Militant methods generated lots of publicity which got MPs and the public discussing the issue of votes for women.

However, some publicity was negative and put MPs off supported votes for women as they could not be seen to give in to violence.

Describe three areas where women had made some economic and social progress by 1900.

Answer explanation

Legal rights included right to own property, divorce and more rights over children.

Education Act included primary education for girls.

University open doors for female students.

Employment - women in professions eg teachers, lawyers and eventually medicine.

What methods were used by the Suffragists in helping gain publicity to the cause of votes for women before 1914?

• Lobbying MPs

• Smashing windows

• Hunger strikes

• Helping out on farms during the war

What arguments suggest the Suffragists made a positive impact by 1914?

Answer explanation

Membership strong, over 54,000 members

Nationwide campaign

Lobbying MPs had gained support.

Conciliation Bills suggest many MPs supported votes for women.

Which pressure group had most members

• suffragists

• suffragettes

Answer explanation

Suffragists - 54,000

Suffragettes -13,000 but reduced to around 4000

During the war women drove ..... & ...... , worked in ......... ......... making weapons and worked on ...... ensuring there was enough ....

The Speakers Conference in 1916 was discussing

• the shortage of food and weapons

• enfranchisement of all men

• enfranchisement of men fighting in the war only

• enfranchisement of women only

Answer explanation

40% of men were excluded from voting because of the property qualification. This conference met to discuss enfranchisement of all men.

The conference also discussed votes for women. 17 /32 MPs present were pro female suffrage.

The Representation of the People Bill 1918 gave

• All men over 21 and women over 28 the vote

• All men over 21, men over 19 who fought in the war and women over 30 the vote

• All men over 18 and women over 30 the vote

• All men over 21 and women over the age of 30 the vote

A coalition government is

Answer explanation

A coalition government is one which is composed of members from all political parties.

Political parties put their differences to one side and rule in the 'national interest'.

This helped women gain the vote because parties could find agreement where no particular party would benefit.