Wider Franchise and Suffrage

• Brief History

  • Early 1800s only 400,000 people could vote
  • The wealthy could vote multiple times
  • Women and Working class were excluded
  • Industrial cities lacked representation
• 1832 Great Reform Act


  Greater representation to industrial areas. More votes to tenant farmers shopkeepers, landowners (property was still required to vote)
• 1918 Representation of the People Act

  Women over 30 who were married, owned property or graduates were given the vote. All men over 21 given it
• 1928 Representation of the People Act


  Vote extended to all women over 21
• 1969 Representation of the People Act


  Voting age lowered to 18
• Campaign for Suffrage

  • Suffragists: used peaceful methods, organised a march of 3000 women in 1907. No bills they tried to pass became law. - (NUWSS)
  • Suffragettes: hunger strikes, vandalism and arson. Had 2000-5000 members (WSPU)
  • National Union of Students: wanted votes at 16