Women's Enfranchisement

“To what extent was the Great War the most important factor in the enfranchisement of women in 1918?” History Assignment
It could be argued that women’s contribution during the First World War was the most significant factor in the enfranchisement of women in 1918, as AJP Taylor confirms in his book ‘English history 1914-1945’ stated, “war smoothed the way for democracy”. The war was after the industrial revolution; hereafter everything was different. The industrial revolution had changed society to an urban dominated life style where factory work replaced farming. As a result ideologies centred on the town and the city and these focused on democracy as a solution to all of their problems. The war seemed to highlight that Britain was on the
From 1850 onwards as society saw changes such as women gaining rights to their children, property and education. Women also legally gained the right to file for divorce on the grounds of adultery, cruelty or dissertation by the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857. Women became increasingly active in public affairs such as becoming members of political organisations and town councils. An example of these political organisations would be the Women’s Liberal Association formed in 1881 and the Conservative Primrose League founded in 1883. This was important because this small but increased involvement in said activities meant that women slowly became more involved in political affairs and had a voice in public affairs. An extract from ‘The Women’s Suffrage Movement’ written by Molly Housego and Neil Storey agrees that these organisations were “formed without a specific women’s suffrage agenda; these demonstrated women’s competence in the political arena and consequently brought female suffrage closer to acceptance.” The founding of these organisations meant that women could show their interest and competence on political matters aside from fighting for the vote. Without these vital political opportunities it could be argued that it might have taken women longer to receive the vote. Although it could be argued, if the
Many men viewed that women’s highly skilled and dangerous work during the war showed great independence. Their mature political response to stop campaigning for women’s suffrage when the war started on August 4th 1914 was praised by many men and the vote was granted as a sign of respect and gratitude towards their assistance to British victory. Nonetheless, the suffrage movement definitely set the grounds for the votes for women and the changes in society in the nineteenth century allowed women’s to have more confidence and provided substantial and substantive reasons behind their campaign were all important attributing factors towards the enfranchisement of women. However, as historian John Ray stated, “their war efforts succeeded where the Suffragette campaign had failed”. The First World War was, therefore, the most critically important and influential factor towards female enfranchisement as it demonstrated just how independent, dynamic and rational women were and how vital a role they played in wider society making their enfranchisement