Politics - The Work of the Suffragists and Suffragettes to extend the Franchise
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- Created on: 08-04-18 16:46
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- The Work of the Suffragists and Suffragettes to extend the Franchise
- Exclusion of women largely unchallenged until late 19th century
- Assumed married women represented by husbands' vote
- Could vote in local council elections, not parliamentary - only men can have say in issues of national importance
- NUWSS - 1897 - first challengers
- Middle-class women, pacifists - 'suffragists'
- Peaceful protest, petitions, lobbying MPs
- Evidence of changing opinion but it wasn't enough for radical campaigners
- Emmeline Pankhurst - originally a suffragist started up WSPU
- WSPU - 1903 - product of more radical NUWSS members
- 'Suffragettes' - both working- and middle-class - used militant tactics
- 1913 - Emily Davison threw herself under king's horse at Epsom Derby
- Attracted hostility as well as sympathy for strength and endurance
- Hunger strikes in prison, caused government to force-feed - reflected badly on government - they introduced the Cat and Mouse Act
- Held back once WW1 started in 1914
- WSPU - 1903 - product of more radical NUWSS members
- WSPU - 1903 - product of more radical NUWSS members
- 'Suffragettes' - both working- and middle-class - used militant tactics
- 1913 - Emily Davison threw herself under king's horse at Epsom Derby
- Attracted hostility as well as sympathy for strength and endurance
- Hunger strikes in prison, caused government to force-feed - reflected badly on government - they introduced the Cat and Mouse Act
- Held back once WW1 started in 1914
- 1918 - Representation of the People Act - women got the vote
- Act passed mainly because there was pressure from working-class men who had served in war but did not own property so therefore couldn't work - was unfair as they were willing to lay down their lives for country but didn't have stake in it
- Women over 30 also got vote if they were household owners or wives of one
- Varied arguments as to whether votes for women was achieved by suffragettes, suffragists or the work women did in the war
- Exclusion of women largely unchallenged until late 19th century
- Case Study - Votes at 16
- 2003 - Votes at 16 Coalition - Electoral Commission look at group but decided no change
- Some MPs very much in favour - Julie Morgan (Labour MP) - sponsored private member's bill in 2008 though was unsuccessful
- 16 and 17 year olds could vote in 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum
- 2015 election - all major parties in favour except Conservatives
- For
- Citizenship lessons in school so young people are aware of politics, can take part in political debates, youth parliament exists
- Have other legal rights at 16 so why not the ability to vote?
- Being able to vote would encourage more political involvement from young people - 3/4 voted in Scottish Referendum
- Allows voting in issues that are important to young people and forces politicians to consider them in campaigning and policy making
- Against
- Lack of necessary life experience and maturity - relatively small amount are actually interested and therefore may be very influenced by parents or other adults
- There are limits to rights at 16 including the need for parental agreement to marry and few 16 year olds are in full-time employment
- Scottish Referendum attracted high participation in all age groups meaning the 16-17 years olds aren't special and it's an unfair test
- Most countries don't allow votes at 16 so it's mainstream for the UK to not allow it too
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