There are many reasons why the campaign for women’s suffrage developed in the years after 1870; one reason is that social attitudes began to change after 1870, for example; the idea of marriage as companionship began to hinder absolute male domination before 1870. Women were regarded by society as relatively weak, passive and dependant individuals who are less rational and more emotional than men. Women wanted to change the attitude that their intellectual capacity was lower than that of men. They also wanted to change the attitude that they did not have the same capacity for government as men, and whether they are possessed of the qualifications for ruling or government. Women were tired of inferiority status. They were tired of the subordination that they were subjected to. After 1870 however, attitudes towards women in society were changing slowly which increased the number of people supporting the campaign for women’s suffrage.
Another reason why the campaign for women’s suffrage developed in the years after 1870 is that there were a lot of social changes that were beginning to challenge the family institution. For example the sizes of families began to decline as women got married a little later and contraceptive practices began to be adopted which enabled women to have fewer children. This gave women the opportunity to be able to go to school or to work.
Women however had no means to gain an education since no college or university would accept women students but in the early 19th century, educators began expanding the opportunities of women in education. Being educated enlightened women; it changed the way they thought
Women who worked in the professions such as doctors, nurses, mayors or teachers did not have the right to vote whereas men who were lunatics, convicts or drunkards were able to vote. This made women more eager and determined to fight for their right to vote on equal terms as men.
The campaign for women’s suffrage also developed in the years after 1870 because of efforts and work from the members of the NUWSS and WSPU. Members of the NUWSS used peaceful methods by organising meetings and presenting petitions to the government to try and gain the vote for women whereas members of the WSPU used illegal, violent and militant actions rather than constitutional actions like the NUWSS. They both gained a lot of publicity, which contributed to the increase in the number of memberships. Some of the supporters for votes for women were men, which proved that the two organisations were beginning to change the view that a women’s place was in the home.
Change of laws also contributed to the development of women’s suffrage in 1870. Married Women’s Property Act allowed wives to keep some of their earnings and own their own property.
From the evidence above it is clear that there are many reasons to why a campaign for women’s suffrage developed in the years after 1870. It was acceptable in society that a women’s place was in the home but as the world started changing and women’s views started to change they believed that they were as intelligent and capable of doing the same things as men. The influence they got from other countries also contributed to the development of the campaign for women’s suffrage because women thought that if women in other countries were capable of gaining the vote then we are as capable as them.
