“Women proved by their work during World War One that they deserved the vote”.How accurate is the view that women only received the vote in 1918 on account of their war efforts?
...an to discuss political and social issues. They held public meetings and tried to raise public awareness of women’s’ place in society. The leadership of the suffragists was exclusively middle class but there were of the more radical members who wanted women from the working classes to be included therefore boosting support for the movement. All over Britain the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) were experiencing success. By 1914 they had about 50’000 members and nearly 50% of MPs had been won over. Most MPs believed that some reform was inevitable and by giving them the vote it would keep the suffragists happy and also delay more radical reform –such as full voting rights for all women. In 1903 the emergence of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WPSU) complicated the Suffragists’ position. Their tactics were considered to be negative in that they were more militant and violent. Some of the general public felt that people who behaved in this manner did not deserve the vote. Peaceful demonstration was changing into more violent and aggressive tactics. Many were arrested and this for some of the public gained sympathy and support. All in all a great deal of credit must go to the suffragists in the years prior to the war. They highlighted the political injustice that women had to face. At the height of the Suffragists’ campaign the government had many other difficult issues to face, for example, the passing of Social Reforms, trouble with the trade union and the likelihood of war in Europe. Women made a great impression during World War One. They started to do the jobs usually done by men. Women proved that they were not the weaker sex but every bit the equal of men. This gained them a lot of respect and admiration. On August the 14th 1914 the whole of the Suffrage Movement, both militant and non – militant ceased campaigning and pledged their full support to the government. They put aside differences and channelled their energies into the war effort. The NUWSS with its 500 branches moved quickly into action. This putting aside principals and uniting for the sake of the country also gained public favour. Women were proud of themselves. They had served their country well and because of that their political cause gained credibility. From the beginning of the 19th Century some politicians from mainly Labour and Liberal parties were in favour of extending the vote to women. In conclusion, I believe that the War effort certainly helped the cause. Politicians and the public recognised that women deserved greater political rights. It was also clear now that women could take part in ordinary life. Their image had changed. No longer were they expected only to stay at home, they had joined the workforce as factory workers, bus conductre...