Furthermore, source 14 explains how “anti-suffragists are dropping their opposition to the full citizenship of women”, which shows again this change in public ideas and opinions. Also the some of the suffrage campaigns ceased and the likes of the WSPU joined forces with the Government and worked side by side to fight a common cause. The WSPU wanted women to be conscripted into industrial services and urged for the abolition of trade unions. The NUWSS did not see it that way and continued to carry out peace rallies wanting Britain to adopt a neutral role. However, Millicent Fawcett branched off claming that women’s suffrage would only be achieved if the war was supported. After all if Britain did not succeed then democracy would be under serious threat.
Due to suffragist parties slowing down and no longer using militant action, the government could give women the vote without giving in to militancy. This is shown in source 15 “the WSPU ended their militant campaign”. The source does suggest that this is a bad thing and they would be pushed down the “political agenda”. This may have been the case. It could be argued that the government were seriously considering giving some women the vote before the outbreak of war. Asquith was the main man standing in the way but other parties and leaders could see benefits of allowing women to vote. Therefore, the war has seen the campaign fade away and the government may not have to worry about this after the war either, as campaigning wise the suffragists are almost back where they started.
One example of suffragist support was the alliance the NUWSS created with the Labour Party which could have led to the vote by 1915. However, the war started thus putting pressure on the Liberal Government which led to talks with the NUWSS.
Also, as stated earlier Millicent Fawcett broke away from the NUWSS and so it became divided. This obviously weakened them and slowed them down as many were now concentrating on the war effort.
On the other hand, source 15 states that women were pushed down the “political agenda” but not completely away from the attention of the government. This in a sense agrees with source 14, “women’s suffrage, of which everyone is conscious”. The two are presented in different tones, however, both still suggest that women’s suffrage is very much in the minds of the government and must eventually be addressed.
Source 14 is published in a newspaper by the NUWSS. Now it cannot be certain but it is possible that the NUWSS are trying to create a positive image of women to influence public opinion. However, it could be based on true fact and not just be the opinion of one or more WSPU members.
In contrast, source 15 is from a History view and while the facts and evidence will have been well researched, it is still only a matter of opinion.
Overall as expressed with source 14 and to an extent 15, the issue of women’s suffrage would still be present after the war. This is outlined by the suffrage reform being needed in 1918.
In 1918 some women began to gain the vote as they had proved their right in public life and the separate spheres were becoming a thing of the past. It was seen that the effort women had put into the war, as stated in source 14, should be rewarded by giving them equality to men. Also due to the help, such as additional funding and labour, from the likes of the NUWSS and WSPU; the public felt that these organisations had proved their point. Furthermore, the government did not want the return of militancy which may have happened if a resolution was not carried out.
Moreover, there were more subtle reasons for some women gaining the vote, such as; the fear of communism, to soften the blow of women having to give up their jobs or because Britain simply wanted to keep up with democratic countries.
However, some of the reasoning would link to what source 15 was trying to present. The government feared the return of militancy and that some men were ineligible to vote after the war. Therefore, it could be argued that it was more forced upon the government rather than them wanting to actually give women the vote.
Nevertheless, it could be said that one of the main reasons for some women gaining the vote was the change in government. Asquith, who had not given the conciliation Bills enough time in Parliament, was replaced. In his place came Lloyd George and in 1916 a conciliation government was formed with changes within the cabinet.
Overall both sources share good arguments to whether the war delayed giving women the vote. The two sources have elements which seem to merge together to produce the final outcome. The war did change many people’s views and countless women had proved their right to citizenship. Their cause was aided by things such as positive and sympathetic media cover and changes in government. It could be argued that the war helped a long battle between two forces to be stopped by something bigger than themselves. The war, whilst dragging on over a period of four years, appears to have sped up the giving of women the vote.
On the other hand, women over the age of thirty only gained the vote, which could have caused much controversy. This was because most of the work, during the war, was carried out by much younger women. It was said that women over thirty were more responsible, sensible and not as radical. But this raised the question of whether they really deserved it. In spite of this, around eight-million women were given the vote in 1918, which was seen as a huge triumph and success.
To conclude the war helped women to an extent. It allowed them to come away from their “sphere” and do, what used to be, male dominated jobs. However, not all women gained the vote and the women who did not actually do a great deal of work during the war. Some women had achieved the vote and soon man more would follow.
