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SUFFragettes??? am i right? Why did a campaign for women??s suffrage develop in the years after 1870?

The Great Reform Act sparked a series of women??s rights campaigns, coinciding with the suffragette??s feminist movements. The act specifically disenfranchised women; and at the same time declared the removal of all ??rotten boroughs??, which were areas with small populations, that were still politically represented, even though the industrial revolution had produced huge cities that were still not seen politically. There was a great deal of pressure from the public for this Act, and a revolution was feared under the current system of franchise. The act increased the number of individuals entitled to vote, now 653,000 men could vote out of a population of about 14 million. A second reform act followed – by Lord Russell, though initially denied by the House of Lords, stating that the effects of the masses voting that were not educated enough in politics which could lead to an ineffective government. However in 1867, The Conservatives, under the leadership of Disraeli in the House of Commons, passed their own bill so that they could limit the effects of so many people voting who were ??uneducated in the field of politics??. The requirements for the votes were as follows: a borough franchise for all who paid rates in person; and extra votes for graduates, professionals and those with over ⣵0 savings. There were now two million voters, and soon able to vote confidentially. Source A shows the unjust disadvantage they were at in being unable to vote, and how men who were criminal and ??unfit for society?? were able to vote. Women were increasingly aware of the increasing numbers of male voters, of who may have been drunkards or criminals, etcetera. I believe that through these Reform Acts had made women realise their disposition in society, ??what a woman may be and yet not have the right to vote,?? followed by, ??what a man may have been, and not yet lose the vote.?? In 1884 Gladstone introduced his proposals that would give working class males the same voting rights as those living in the boroughs. Though refused by the House of Lords, a Redistribution Bill was organised changing the voting requirements. Gladstone accepted the terms and the 1884 Reform Act were allowed to become law. This measure gave the counties the same franchise as the boroughs - adult male householders and ⣱0 lodgers - and added about six million to the total number who could vote in parliamentary elections. I believe that women campaigned for the franchise, as they saw themselves as wholly excluded from legal rights and the mere right to vote, and women wanted input into the laws that affected them and their children. I also think that it would be a milestone in women??s rights, if they were allowed the right to vote, it would lead onto more of a say in government elections and reduce sexism of the era. For example, it is now illegal not to give women equal pay due to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Equal Pay Act of 1970. Society rendered women as property of the closest male relative, and their place in society relied on the culture, particularly the religious constraints found in most societies. People took the Bible and its teachings quite literally and women were subservient to men who protected them. Women had seen women in other countries entitled to the vote, for example, in Denmark, 1857, women were granted equal rights of inheritance and access to all forms of employment. By 1893, in places such as America and New Zealand (seen as less developed by ??British standards??) women had already gained the vote. New Zealand was a British colony and it seems quite bizarre that they were able to develop women??s suffrage laws even before a campaign had fully begun in Britain (the supposedly more developed and advanced society). Another important beginning for the campaign was the introduction of women to education. It was only the wealthy that could be educated and therefore learn their underestimated capabilities, giving them the incentive to start their suffragette movement. Women could now understand that they can be men??s intellectual equals, another reason for the start of this huge campaign for women??s rights.

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4 days ago
i would be very greatful if you could spare the time to read this xxx

4 days ago
i have read this several times but english -and hitrory for that matter - are not my srong points


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: 4 days ago
i would be very greatful if you could spare the time to read this xxx