Explain the reasons why the women's movements failed to win the vote before 1914.

Explain the reasons why the women’s movements failed to win the vote before 1914.

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During the early twentieth centaury, the social position of women was very different. The role of a woman was very domestic. They were expected simply to marry, bear children and look after the home. Women were seen as unintelligent, indecisive, emotional creatures that could not cope with politics. William Randall Cramer commented that if women got the vote, they would become masculine and domineering and consequently neglect their household and marital duties. There were also those that thought that if women had the vote, they would stop having children, and eventually the human race would die out.

When the NUWSS was formed to campaign for women’s suffrage, it was met by horror and disapproval. This made the situation difficult for the suffragists, but on the other hand perhaps it would be irrational to expect a more positive response as the traditional social position of women had been upheld for a long time. These feelings heightened with the founding of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1903. Not only were women campaigning for the vote, but resorting to violence and vandalism to push their cause. The WSPU committed criminal offences such as setting fire to letterboxes, smashing windows and assaulting policemen. These criminal acts probably reduced their support, as people would be cautious of openly supporting dissidents. Perhaps the most shocking for the public of the time was that women who were not ‘women of the streets’ were being imprisoned. Once there, they were not chastened, but proceeded to hunger strike, an action thought typical of lunatics. They even audaciously continued their behavior after the Cat and Mouse Act was passed in 1913. However, the actions of the WSPU did bring the plight of the suffragettes into the public view. For example, Emily Davidson committed suicide (yet another criminal offence) by throwing herself in front of the king’s horse. Public opinion was even more against the suffragettes as there was more anger over the death of a good horse and the insult to the King.

Women were also disregarded in the public eye, as they did not represent a united front. The WSPU and the NUWSS were striving towards the same goal, but using very different tactics. This showed the women as indecisive especially when the Women’s Anti Suffrage League (WASL) formed campaigning against the vote. The Women’s Freedom League (WFL) was also established as the result of an argument between the Pankhursts and Millicent Fawcett. Maybe if the women’s movements had been united, they would have been taken more seriously and regarded as a more potent force.

Concerning the passing of laws, public opinion ...

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Concerning the passing of laws, public opinion is very important as these are the views reflected by the MP’s in Government. Perhaps if the public had supported the women’s movements, the Government may have taken them more seriously. However, this would be expected as at the time, Government had other more important political and social issues to resolve.

Britain was engaged in a race to build dreadnoughts with Germany. Tensions in Europe were rising and by 1905 there were already indications of an imminent war. The welfare reforms that began 1905 needed to be resolved; for example, the Old Age Pensions 1905, the School Meals Act 1906 and the National Insurance Act 1911. These reforms aimed to help the poorer people in England. The Liberals probably thought that they had made such an effort with their welfare reforms, yet the bothersome suffragettes were demanding the vote. There were also constitutional problems concerning the Lords, the Irish Home Rule Bill and the People’s Budget 1909. This was a time of political turmoil, so there was not time to consider less important issues like giving women the vote. To try to pressurize the Liberals and force recognition, in 1907 the suffragettes adopted the new tactic of by-elections by encouraging votes for the Conservatives. However, these had the opposite effect as this angered the Liberals. The Conservatives as rich landowners would be even less likely to grant the vote to women. These political problems meant that women’s suffrage was waylaid.

It was not only the attitudes of the MP’s and political problems, but also the practical problems of giving women the vote. In order to give women the vote, the property qualification of the voting qualification would have to be changed. In 1908, Herbert Asquith took over as leader of the Liberal government. Unfortunately for the suffragettes, he was against women’s franchise. He believed that most women actually did not want the vote. He tried to deny them the vote by stalling. The Liberals were also worried that women would vote for other parties, and waste time demanding trivial things concerning clothes. An adult suffrage bill was introduced in 1908 but was later defeated. This frustrated the suffragettes and they responded by escalating violence. In 1910, a Conciliation Bill was proposed that would give women the vote. During negotiations, militant activities by the WSPU were halted. The Bill was suspended and the WSPU resumed militant campaigning. However, this Bill was again defeated.

By 1914, there was a stalemate between the government and the suffragettes. The Government did not want to be seen as giving in to violence, especially by women. On the other hand, the suffragettes frustrated and despondent after having their hopes raised continued their violent tactics in order to gain the vote. The start of World War II finally ended the stalemate. On of the views at this time was that women did not fight for their country so they did not deserve the vote. The war would give them the chance to prove that they were indeed worthy of the vote, through the actions of organizations such as the Women’s Royal Air Force and the munitions workers.

Perhaps the most important factor why women did no get the vote before 1914 was the attitude of the public. The main cause was the violence and criminal acts carried out by the WSPU. On the other hand, they would not have been driven to turn to violence if they had been taken notice of while they used the tactic of peaceful persuasion. The attitudes of the public were mirrored by the politicians and the Prime Minister himself. Political problems also played a part. It is therefore not surprising that women did not gain the vote before 1914.