History-Why a campaign for womens suffrage developed

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Name: Rose- Anne 10N

Why did a campaign for women’s suffrage develop in the years after 1870?

The women’s suffrage was a universal issue that had begun a long time before the 19th century but after the years 1870 the campaign for women suffrage developed throughout Britain.

There are different factors that contributed towards the campaign. Before 1870, a large scale movement had not been established but after 1870, movements such as the Primrose League, the Women’s Liberal Foundation and most important, the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies were all established.

Women suffered a number of restrictions under the law in Britain. Although in 1870 women could take part in council elections and elect their own board members in organisations, they couldn’t take part in general elections. This meant that they didn’t have a full say in how their country was governed as they couldn’t elect their own representatives at a national level. This angered women in the society because countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Finland, Denmark, Russia and Iceland had given women were given the vote by this time.

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There was also inequality between men and women in the society. Women were angry that certain men of the population such as drunks and criminals were allowed to vote and they couldn’t vote because of their gender although there were well educated women among the population. However, some men opposed to this idea. Men also had sexist attitudes towards women. Many men believed that the quality of an ideal woman was to believe that she had a lower status than a man as she is less intelligent and weaker. Men also believed that women should have traditional roles such ...

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