This revision podcast aims to explain the different factors that contributed to women gaining the right to vote in Britain.

The podcast is split into two main sections – the effect of the Suffragists and the Suffragettes on the movement for votes for women, and the role of women in the First World War.

The first part begins by outlining the origins and methods of the Suffragists, which are then contrasted with the methods of the more forthright Suffragette movement.  The effects of their actions are assessed, with particular consideration given to the impact on government officials and wider public opinion as the Suffragette campaign resorted to hunger-strikes in prison.

The second part of the presents an overview of the role of women in World War One.  A short description is given of the role of women on boosting the number of recruits for the army, followed by an assessment of the the effect of women who entered the workplace to take up jobs that had been vacated by men going off to fight.  To revise how the First World War affected the rest of the population, check out the podcast about British civilians in the First World War.

The podcast ends with a description of the Representation of the People Act, which marked a shift in British politics to begin giving women a voice.

You may wish to also download the Women and the Right to Vote PowerPoint, and can test yourself using the Votes for Women practice questions.