The contribution of women during WW1

History

The position of women in the early twentieth century

Campaigns for women's suffrage

The suffragettes

The government's response to the suffragettes

Why it took so long for women to get the vote in Britain

In this unit, pupils investigate why it took so long for women to gain the vote in Britain and the factors that influenced this delay. In the next unit, ‘Thematic study: how has the role of women in British society changed?’, pupils will explore the broader changes in women’s roles and status in British society over time.

In ‘Widening the franchise: who gained the right to vote?’, pupils explored how the voting rights expanded over time. This unit builds on this by examining why it took so long for women to achieve suffrage in Britain, focusing on the barriers and struggles faced by the suffragists and suffragettes.

In this unit, pupils analyse why it took so long for women to win the vote in Britain. They learn about the position of women in the early twentieth century, the campaigns for suffrage and the government's responses to these campaigns and women's contributions during the Great War.

Women's suffrage: why did it take so long for women to get the vote in Britain?

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Match the keywords to the correct definitions.

The suffragists suspended their peaceful campaign and joined the war effort.

The suffragettes suspended their peaceful campaign and joined the war effort.

The suffragettes suspended their violent tactics and many joined the war effort.

The suffragists suspended their violent tactics and many joined the war effort.

Which of the following happened when World War One broke out in 1914?

a campaign of chaining themselves to railings

a protest march called ‘the Right to Serve’

a protest march called ‘the Right to Help’

What did the WSPU organise in 1915 to push for an increased role for women in the war effort?

Which of the following did women not do during WW1?

Complete the sentence by adding the correct year: The {{}} Representation of the People Act gave the vote to all men and married women aged over 30.

Complete the sentence by adding the correct year: In {{}}, the Equal Franchise Act gave votes to everyone aged 21 or older, including women.

Women in New Zealand were granted suffrage.

Suffragettes began to go on hunger strike in prison.

The government passed the Cat and Mouse Act.

Emily Davison died following her publicity stunt at the Epsom Derby.

Put the following events in chronological order.

Which keyword describes a prolonged refusal to eat, carried out in protest by a prisoner?

Complete the sentence: Emily {{}} threw herself in front of King George V's horse in 1913 at the Epsom Derby and died a few days later.

because the process was like a cat (suffragette) chasing a mouse (government)

because the process was like a cat (government) chasing a mouse (suffragette)

because the process was like a cat (public) chasing a mouse (suffragette)

Why did the suffragettes call the 1913 law which allowed for the temporary release of suffragettes on hunger strike the Cat and Mouse Act?

Emmeline Pankhurst and Annie Besant called on members to use more violence.

Some moderate, middle-class suffragettes wanted to start a workers' revolution.

Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Besant called on members to use more violence.

Some radical, working-class suffragettes wanted to start a workers' revolution.

Which of the following were reasons why the suffragettes began using increasingly violent tactics following 1912?

How many women were arrested and imprisoned during the suffragette campaign from 1906-1914?

Starter Quiz