Why did women get the vote in 1918?

The pre-war campaign
1. The suffragettes and suffragists had made it a key political issue
  1. There had been no pre-war campaign in France
    1. Women did not get the vote despite working in factories and supporting the war effort
Changing attitudes of Politicians
1. Pre-war opponents could use the events of WW1 as a reason for changing their minds
  1. All men would get the vote in 1918 - this gave them the opportunity to give some women the vote
    1. In 1916, The Speaker's Conference was set up to come up with an acceptable solution
The role of women during WW1 was crucial
1. Nearly 1 million women were working in the munitions' factories by the end of WW1
  1. They produced 80% of shells used by the army
    1. They had to work long hours in dangerous conditions
      1. The 'canary girls' - because TNT poisoning turned their skin yellow
2. The Women's Land Army
  1. Replaced the Farm Labourers who went to war
    1. This was vital in keeping Britain fed during the war
3. Serving in the military - women played a vital support role
  1. The VAD - Nurses
  2. Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
  3. Women's Royal Navy Service
  4. Women's Royal Air Force
1918 Representation of the People Act gave 8.4 million the vote
1. It gave women over the age of 30 who were a householder or married to a householder the vote
  1. BUT
    1. Many who worked during the war were under the age of 30 so didn't get the vote
      1. 22% of women over the age of 30 were disqualified from voting because they didn't own enough property

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Why did women get the vote in 1918?

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	Created by Dan Bacon about 7 years ago