Peaceful Campaigns and International Pressure
The suffragists (NUWSS) took a completely different approach, using "peaceful persuasion" through meetings, pamphlets, and petitions. Their smartest move was forming an alliance with the newly formed Labour Party - they'd campaign for Labour candidates who supported women's rights, which worried Liberal and Conservative politicians about losing votes.
By 1918, women had already gained voting rights in countries like New Zealand (1893), Finland (1906), and many US states. British politicians, who saw themselves as leaders of the world's greatest democracy, couldn't afford to lag behind these examples. The fact that no disasters occurred in these countries proved there was nothing to fear from women voting.
Changing social attitudes also played a role. Between 1870 and 1894, women gained rights to vote in local elections for school boards and county councils. Educational opportunities expanded too, with women's colleges opening at universities and the 1880 Education Act requiring all children, including girls, to attend school.
Reality Check: However, social change was happening incredibly slowly - women still faced job discrimination and earned less than men, showing that attitudes hadn't changed as dramatically as some claimed.
The evidence suggests that women's war work was the decisive factor. Unlike the suffragist campaigns that had been going for decades with minimal progress, women gained the vote within just a few years of proving their worth during wartime. Their patriotism and sacrifice finally convinced politicians that women deserved a say in national affairs.