HistoryPod Extra: Women secure the right to vote in the Representation of the People Act

Summary

The special edition of 'History Pot Extra' commemorates the centenary of the Representation of the People Act in the UK, marking the beginning of female suffrage on February 6, 1918. The Act granted voting rights to women over 30 who owned property, despite excluding many. It's debated whether women's wartime contributions or pre-war suffrage activism influenced this milestone. The Act was conservative, targeting older, property-owning women, and still maintained gender inequality in voting rights, with full suffrage equality only achieved in 1928.

Takeaways

• 🗝️ The Representation of the People Act in the UK was a significant milestone for female suffrage, granting voting rights to women over 30 who owned property.
• 🏆 The Act was passed by a large majority in the House of Commons, with 385 votes to 55, indicating broad support for the change.
• 🔥 The traditional view is that women's contributions during WWI earned them the right to vote, despite earlier militant actions by suffragettes that included arson and vandalism.
• 🇫🇷 A contrasting argument suggests that the difference in suffrage between the UK and France was due to the absence of a pre-war suffrage movement in France, rather than their war efforts.
• 💥 The militant actions of suffragettes before 1914 were seen as vital to winning the vote, despite the shock and instability they caused at the time.
• 🕊️ Post-WWI, there was a desire to avoid the violence and political upheaval seen in Russia, leading to a more moderate approach to women's suffrage in the 1918 Act.
• 👵 The Act was conservative in its provisions, limiting the vote to women over 30 and property owners, thus excluding many younger and middle-class women.
• 🏛️ The bill's passage in the House of Lords was facilitated by Lord Curzon's decision not to oppose it, leading to its Royal Assent on February 6, 1918.
• 📈 The Act significantly increased the electorate, adding 8.4 million women to the 21 million voters, although it did not achieve full gender equality.
• 🎉 Women's suffrage movements celebrated the 1918 Act as a monumental achievement, with Millicent Fawcett calling it the greatest moment of her life.
• 📚 Full voting equality for women was not achieved until 1928, a decade after the Representation of the People Act, when all gender-based voting disparities were removed.

Q & A

What significant event marked the centenary of the Representation of the People Act in the UK?

The centenary of the Representation of the People Act in the UK is marked by the event that took place on the 6th of February 1918, when the Act received Royal Assent, initiating female suffrage in Great Britain.

How did the Representation of the People Act impact the voting rights of women in 1918?

The Act granted women over the age of 30 who owned property the right to vote, thus beginning the era of female suffrage in Great Britain, although it excluded a large number of women.

What was the traditional explanation for Parliament's support of the Representation of the People Act in 1918?

The traditional explanation is that Parliament supported the bill as a reward for the vital work done by women during the First World War, such as working in munitions factories, driving buses, or working on farms.

How did the actions of the suffragettes prior to the First World War influence the suffrage movement?

The suffragettes' violent actions, which included arson, vandalism, and high-profile protests, are argued to have damaged the suffrage movement, contrasting with the work done by women during the war that persuaded Parliament to support women's suffrage.

Why did the counter-argument suggest that the work of women during the war was not the sole reason for the Act's passage?

The counter-argument points out that in France, where women did equally important war work, they did not win the right to vote due to the absence of a pre-war suffrage movement and the militancy of the suffragettes.

What was the British establishment's concern following the violence in Russia and the subsequent communist revolution?

The British establishment was concerned about avoiding similar violence and instability at home, which influenced their decision to pass a moderate female suffrage section in the 1918 Representation of the People Act.

How did the 1918 Representation of the People Act limit the voting rights of women?

The Act limited voting rights by only granting them to women over 30 who were property owners, thus excluding younger women and educated middle-class women who did not own property.

What was the political strategy behind limiting the voting rights to women over 30 and property owners?

The strategy was conservative, aiming to include women who were perceived as less likely to support radical politics due to their age and marital status, and excluding those who did not own property.

How did the passage of the bill through the House of Lords differ from its passage in the House of Commons?

The bill passed through the House of Lords by 134 votes to 71, after Lord Curzon, who opposed women's suffrage, made it clear that he would not oppose it, avoiding a clash with the Commons.

What was the immediate impact of the 1918 Representation of the People Act on the electorate?

The Act increased the electorate to about 21 million, of which 8.4 million were women, showing a significant expansion but also highlighting the inequality in voting rights between men and women.

How did the 1918 Act differ in granting voting rights to men compared to women?

The Act gave all men over the age of 21 the right to vote, and those who had been on active service in the Armed Forces could vote from 19, while women's voting rights were more restricted.

When did true suffrage equality between men and women come into effect in the UK?

True suffrage equality, where both men and women had equal voting rights, was achieved a decade later in 1928.

Outlines

00:00

🗳️ Centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918

This paragraph commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act in the UK, which initiated female suffrage on February 6, 1918. The Act granted voting rights to women over 30 who owned property, a significant yet limited step towards gender equality. The narrative explores the traditional view that women's contributions during WWI earned them the right to vote, contrasting with the suffragettes' militant actions that some argue were detrimental. It also discusses the counter-argument that the pre-war suffrage movement was crucial. The paragraph delves into the political strategy behind the Act, highlighting its conservative nature by focusing on older, property-owning women and excluding younger, working-class women who contributed to the war effort. The passage also notes the Act's broader impact on the electorate and the mixed reception by the suffrage movement, emphasizing that true voting equality was yet to be achieved.

05:00

📢 Supporting History Pod and Engaging with the Podcast

The second paragraph serves as a call to action for viewers to support the 'History Pod' podcast. It provides information on how supporters can contribute financially through Patreon, as well as how they can help by leaving ratings or reviews on various podcast platforms such as iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play. This paragraph is an appeal to the audience to engage with the content and contribute to its ongoing production and success.

Keywords

💡Representation of the People Act

The Representation of the People Act was a significant piece of legislation in the UK, which received Royal Assent on February 6, 1918. It marked the beginning of female suffrage in Great Britain, allowing women over the age of 30 who owned property the right to vote. This act is central to the video's theme of gender equality and women's suffrage, as it represents a pivotal moment in the history of women's rights.

💡Centenary

The centenary refers to the 100th anniversary of an event, in this case, the passing of the Representation of the People Act. The video script marks this occasion to reflect on the progress made in gender equality since the act's implementation. The term is used to set the historical context of the video and to highlight the significance of the act in the timeline of women's rights.

💡Suffrage

Suffrage is the right to vote in political elections. In the video, the term is used to discuss the historical struggle for women to gain this right. The Representation of the People Act was a milestone in the suffrage movement, as it granted voting rights to a specific group of women, thus advancing the cause of gender equality.

💡First World War

The First World War is a global conflict that took place from 1914 to 1918. The video script suggests that women's contributions during this war were a traditional explanation for the support of the suffrage bill. Women's work in munitions factories, driving buses, and on farms is highlighted as a factor that may have influenced Parliament's decision to support women's suffrage.

💡Suffragettes

Suffragettes were members of women's organizations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries who campaigned for women's right to vote. The video discusses their militant tactics, such as arson and vandalism, and the debate over whether these actions helped or hindered the suffrage movement. The suffragettes' actions are a key part of the narrative on the road to women gaining the right to vote.

💡Gender Equality

Gender equality refers to the equal rights, opportunities, and treatment of individuals, regardless of their gender. The video's main theme revolves around the historical struggle for gender equality, particularly focusing on the right to vote. The Representation of the People Act is a significant event in this context, as it was a step towards equal political representation for women.

💡Munitions Factories

Munitions factories are facilities where weapons and ammunition are manufactured. The script mentions the work done by women in munitions factories during the First World War as a vital contribution that may have influenced the support for women's suffrage. This work is an example of women stepping into roles traditionally held by men, challenging gender norms and contributing to the war effort.

💡Epsom Derby

The Epsom Derby is a famous horse race in the UK. The video script refers to the death of Emily Davison at the 1913 Epsom Derby as an example of the suffragettes' violent actions to draw attention to their cause. This event is a poignant example of the lengths some suffragettes were willing to go to fight for women's rights.

💡Communist Revolution

The Communist Revolution refers to the political upheaval in Russia in 1917, which led to the establishment of a communist government. The script suggests that the British establishment, in the aftermath of the war and the Russian revolution, wanted to avoid similar instability at home, which may have motivated the passing of the moderate female suffrage section in the 1918 act.

💡Millicent Fawcett

Millicent Fawcett was a prominent British suffragist and leader of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. The script highlights her reaction to the 1918 Representation of the People Act, describing it as the greatest moment of her life. Fawcett represents the non-militant suffragist movement, emphasizing the diversity of approaches within the fight for women's rights.

💡Suffrage Equality

Suffrage equality refers to the equal right to vote for all citizens, regardless of gender. The video script notes that true suffrage equality was not achieved until 1928, a decade after the 1918 act. This term is used to illustrate the ongoing struggle for complete equality and the incremental progress made towards it.

Highlights

The Representation of the People Act in the UK received Royal Assent on February 6, 1918, marking the start of female suffrage in Great Britain.

The bill was passed in the House of Commons with a significant majority of 385 votes to 55.

It granted voting rights to women over 30 who owned property, a move that was still a milestone in gender equality in the UK.

The traditional explanation suggests that Parliament supported the bill as a reward for women's vital work during World War I.

Suffragettes' violent actions, including arson and vandalism, are argued to have damaged the suffrage movement.

Women's war work in munitions factories, driving buses, or working on farms is said to have persuaded Parliament to support suffrage.

A counter-argument suggests the importance of pre-war suffrage movements, like the militancy of the suffragettes, in winning the vote.

The 1918 Act was a conservative measure, only granting the vote to women over 30 and property owners.

Many women who worked during the war were younger and thus did not receive the right to vote due to the age restriction.

The Act also excluded educated middle-class women who had moved into white-collar jobs and lived in rented properties.

The bill passed through the House of Lords with a majority of 134 votes to 71, avoiding a clash with the Commons.

Lord Curzon's decision not to oppose the bill facilitated its passage and subsequent Royal Assent.

The Act increased the electorate to about 21 million, including 8.4 million women, significantly expanding suffrage.

Despite the progress, the Act maintained a clear division between men and women in voting rights.

All men over 21 and those who had been on active service could vote from 19, while women were still not political equals.

True suffrage equality was achieved a decade later with the 1928 Act.

Prominent suffrage campaigner Millicent Fawcett described the 1918 Act as the greatest moment of her life.

The 1918 Act was seen as a way to avoid the kind of violence and instability seen in Russia and the subsequent communist revolution.

Transcripts

[Music]

hello and welcome to this special

edition of history pot extra marking the

centenary of the representation of the

People Act in the UK on the 6th of

February 1918

the representation of the People Act

received Royal Assent marking the start

of female suffrage in Great Britain the

bill had been passed in the House of

Commons by 385 votes to 55 and gave

women over the age of 30 who owned

property the right to vote while it

therefore denied the right to a large

number of women it was still a watershed

moment in the history of gender equality

in the UK

a traditional explanation for

Parliament's support for the bill is

that it acted as some kind of reward for

the vital work done by women during with

the First World War

adherents of this interpretation argued

that the suffragettes had actually

damaged the suffrage movement through

their violent actions these included

committing arson vandalism and carrying

out other high-profile protests that

included the death of Emily Davison at

the horse racing Epsom Derby in 1913

this interpretation

therefore argues that it was only the

work done by women during the First

World War

such as that in munitions factories

driving buses or working on farms that

persuaded Parliament to support women's

suffrage conversely in France where

women did equally important war work

they did not win the right to vote a

counter-argument therefore exists saying

that this is because there was no

pre-war suffrage movement in France and

certainly nothing to equal the militancy

of the suffragettes adherents of this

interpretation therefore argue that the

work of the suffragettes and the

suffragists before 1914 had been vitally

important to women winning the right to

vote years later the actions of the

suffragettes had shocked many people in

Britain and nobody was keen to return to

the violence and instability of pre-1914

in the aftermath of the violence that

had erupted in Russia and then led to

the communist revolution the British

establishment wanted to avoid that

possibility at home this interpretation

therefore argues that passing a

relatively moderate female suffrage

section in the 1918 representation of

the People Act kept the suffragists

happy and delayed more radical reform

such as full and equal voting rights for

both men and women

the axe itself was there for an

important but rather conservative

measure firstly it only gave the vote to

women over 30 since many politicians

believed that their age meant they were

much less likely to support radical

politics as they were more likely to be

married with children

this meant that many of the women who

had worked in the fields and in the

factories during the war did not even

get the right to vote as they were

generally younger than the minimum age

secondly only women who were property

owners qualified for the vote meaning

that even the educated middle-class

women who had been a large part of the

suffragettes before 1914 were excluded

since many of them had gone into

white-collar jobs after 1920 and gone on

to live in rented property away from

their parents as a sign of their

independence

the bill itself passed through the House

of Lords by 134 votes to 71 after Lord

Curzon the president of the National

League for opposing women's suffrage

made it clear that he would not oppose

it and therefore risk a clash with the

Commons consequently it received Royal

Assent from king george v on the 6th of

february 1918 increasing the electorate

to about 21 million of whom 8.4 million

were women the women's suffrage

movements welcomed the 1918

representation of the people acts with

prominent campaign and Millicent Fawcett

describing the act as the greatest

moment of her life however the act still

showed a clear division between men and

women since the same Act gave all men

over the age of 21 the right to vote

while those who had been on active

service in the Armed Forces could vote

from 19 therefore women were still not

political equals even after the 1918 act

true suffrage equality only came a

decade later in 1928 if you enjoy

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