Women over 30 gained the vote in 1918 mainly because of women's contribution to the war effort. Do you agree? Explain your answer.

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Women over 30 gained the vote in 1918 mainly because of women’s contribution to the war effort. Do you agree? Explain your answer.

In August 1914 Britain declared war on Germany. Both the suffragettes and suffragists suspended their campaigns. Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, the government ordered the unconditional release of all suffrage prisoners. On August 13, Emmeline Pankhurst called a temporary suspension to militancy and asked her followers to support her in the war effort.

    The suffragette movement was now effectively over although some ex- WSPU members formed and joined other groupings that continued to campaign for women enfranchisement, such as the suffragettes of the WSPU, the independent WSPU, the Women’s Freedom League, and the United Suffragists. Some leaders of the WSPU such as Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter. Christabel played an important role as speakers at meetings to recruit young men into the army. Others like Sylvia Pankhurst were opposed to the war and refused to carry out this role. Some members of the WSPU disagreed with the decision to call of militant activities, for example, Kitty Marion was so angry she went to USA to help American women in their fight for the vote.

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    So many men had gone away to fight that women were needed to do their jobs. As a result, the number of women working in the industry increased enormously. The war gave women the opportunity to prove their worth in the war effort. As more and more men were required to fight, there were huge numbers of jobs in industry and other essential areas. Women volunteered to help fill the shortages. Many joined the Women’s Land Army or Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD’s). Women worked in many areas such as munitions factories, in engineering, banks, buses, and railways, in ...

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