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History Paper 2: Women And The Vote Pt 1 (Conciliation Bill and the Cat…
History Paper 2: Women And The Vote Pt 1
Conciliation Bill and the Cat and Mouse Act
The Suffragettes were furious and increased their campaign of violence including window smashing. Many women were arrested
In prison they wanted to be treated as political prisoners not criminals so they went on hunger strike. The authorities responded by force feeding the women in prison. The Suffragettes used this in their propaganda
In 1910 Asquith said he would introduce a Conciliation Bill to give women the vote. In 1911 the government stalled and then announced it was dropping the bill and instead introduced a new Reform Bill to give more votes to men
The government introduced the prisoners temporary discharge for health act (The cat and mouse act) which meant that women were released from prison when they became ill due to not eating and then were rearrested when they recovered
Asquith became Prime Minister in 1908 and he was against women and the vote
Black Friday
They set out peacefully but, when they neared the House of Commons they were met by policemen
As the Suffragettes tried to go forward they were pushed and beater, thrown to the ground and trampled, had limbs broken and dislocated, some were dragged down side streets and indecent assaults were attempted
In November 1910 the Suffragettes led a march to the House of Commons
Ada Wright, one of the Suffragettes, was thrown to the ground and was photographed as she lay there in a daze - the next day the photograph appeared on the front page of the Daily Mirror under the headline : BLACK FRIDAY
The death of Emily Davision
At the time many thought she had been trying to commit suicide at a public event to draw attention to the Suffragette cause. The Times newspaper was very critical of her actions
Her funeral brought positive publicity for the Suffragettes (even from the Times Newspaper) as the thousands of women that attended were calm
Emily Davision tried to attach a 'votes for women' banner to the King's horse. She failed and her skull was fatally fractured by a blow from the horse's hoof. She died of her injuries on 8th June
Epson Derby 4th June 1913 - big horse race and lots of media present. What happened at the Derby was big news!
Women gain the vote
In 1917 the Representation of the People Act was passed and it became law in 1918
All males over the age of 21 gained the right to vote and women over 30 who were householders or married to householders (approximately 9 million women)
Women had proven themselves during the war and also the government wanted to change the law anyway to give the vote to 'hero' soldiers serving abroad (you couldn't vote if you lived outside of Britain)
the Act was a starting point, but remember this only meant rich women could vote and it was working class women who had done the hard and dangerous work during the war!
Did the violent methods of the Suffragettes work?
Yes
Asquith was already against women getting the vote, so the violence didn't make things worse
The government's reaction to the Suffragettes helped the cause e.g. the force feeding
Made female suffrage front page news
No
It gave the government an excuse not to give women the vote - it was wrong to give in to violence
It turned more moderate men/MPs against female suffrage
It supported the view that women were not responsible enough - they were too emotional and hysterical
In 1913 and 1914 the Suffragists were gaining in popularity as some women were turning away from the Suffragettes violent approach