The battle to win the vote - for men and for women - was a long struggle. From Peterloo, through the Chartists, to the suffragists and suffragettes, we saw over a century of protest. Held at the People's History Museum as part of the centenary year commemorations of the passing of the Representation of the People Act (1918- 2018) this course will examine the historical and political background that led to the passing of the Act. We will look into why they gave us the vote in 1918, examine the outcome of that election, and discuss recent events and attitudes to voting today. The course will include a guided tour of the special exhibition at the People's History Museum, and a visit to the archives.
Course aim
This course will examine the historical and political background that led to the passing of the 1918 Representation of the People Act.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- No skills or experience needed
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Discuss the history of political representation
- Discuss why the franchise was extended in 1918
- Discuss how past struggles for democracy to current events
How will I be taught?
- The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
- Tutor presentation of material followed by interactive discussion is the teaching style used on this course. It is not a series of formal lectures.
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- Written and oral feedback, as well as option of email interaction
What else do I need to know?
- Nothing else is needed
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- No pre reading or pre course work is required
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Progress to a course with another provider
Download full course information sheet
