Did the Word War change people’s ideas about the right to vote?
Before the war
In 1914 the ordinary people in most parts of Europe had little say how they were governed. A king or an emperor ruled with the help of leading nobles, generals and politicians. Usually there was a parliament which met regularly, and in some countries such as Britain in had real power over the government. But even in Britain no women and only three out of every five men had a vote. Many soldiers in the army had no vote.
In Germany, where all men could vote, the parliament (Reichstag in German) had little power. The Kaiser’s government could carry even if the Reichstag voted against it. For instance, in July 1917 the Reichstag voted for peace, but the Kaiser continued with the war.
In Russia things were even worse. Only a few wealthy men could vote, and even then the Duma (Parliament) had no real power over the Tsar.
War for democracy
As people saw the horror of war many began to feel that the emperors and generals had led Europe and the world into a brutal mess. Ordinary people were the ones who suffered most.
In March 1917 the people of Russia overthrew their Tsar and announced that Russia was now a democracy. Soon afterwards the USA joined in the war against Germany. In the USA all men had the right to vote since 1870, and Americans were proud of the claim that their country was run by its people. After 1917 many people, led by US President was Wilson, claim that the war was now a war for democracy – to bring power to the people in all countries.
Post- war change
By 1920 the Austrian, Russian and German emperors had abdicated (resigned). In all three countries every adult now had a vote, including women. Several new countries were set up, such as Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, where every man and woman had a vote. In most of these countries the parliament had real power over the government. For the Soviet system of democracy in post-revolution Russia, see page 32 In Britain all men and women were had the vote (all women in 1928). In the USA all women were given the vote in 1920.
By 1920 there were twenty- eight countries in which all women had the vote. In 1914 there had only been four.
*the muddiest, dirtiest common soldier from the slums or the factories or the field was a hero before whom great ladies were eager to kneel in devotion and love, to cut away his bloodstained clothes, to dress his wounds. in the trenches or in the ruins under shell-fire, young officers wrote home about their men: they are too splindid for words! i'm proud to command such a topping crowd. they make ashamed of the things i used to think about the working man. there is nothing good for them............adapted from Sir Plilip Gibbs, ten years after ' 1926
In the shortest time within reach Nigeria may expirience the same scenerio that befelled the world in 1914. the issue of these Boko Haram terrorist group operating in some nothern state of Nigeria in the name of Islam may soon turn out to become a world history.
Before the war
In 1914 the ordinary people in most parts of Europe had little say how they were governed. A king or an emperor ruled with the help of leading nobles, generals and politicians. Usually there was a parliament which met regularly, and in some countries such as Britain in had real power over the government. But even in Britain no women and only three out of every five men had a vote. Many soldiers in the army had no vote.
In Germany, where all men could vote, the parliament (Reichstag in German) had little power. The Kaiser’s government could carry even if the Reichstag voted against it. For instance, in July 1917 the Reichstag voted for peace, but the Kaiser continued with the war.
In Russia things were even worse. Only a few wealthy men could vote, and even then the Duma (Parliament) had no real power over the Tsar.
War for democracy
As people saw the horror of war many began to feel that the emperors and generals had led Europe and the world into a brutal mess. Ordinary people were the ones who suffered most.
In March 1917 the people of Russia overthrew their Tsar and announced that Russia was now a democracy. Soon afterwards the USA joined in the war against Germany. In the USA all men had the right to vote since 1870, and Americans were proud of the claim that their country was run by its people. After 1917 many people, led by US President was Wilson, claim that the war was now a war for democracy – to bring power to the people in all countries.
Post- war change
By 1920 the Austrian, Russian and German emperors had abdicated (resigned). In all three countries every adult now had a vote, including women. Several new countries were set up, such as Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, where every man and woman had a vote. In most of these countries the parliament had real power over the government. For the Soviet system of democracy in post-revolution Russia, see page 32 In Britain all men and women were had the vote (all women in 1928). In the USA all women were given the vote in 1920.
By 1920 there were twenty- eight countries in which all women had the vote. In 1914 there had only been four.
*the muddiest, dirtiest common soldier from the slums or the factories or the field was a hero before whom great ladies were eager to kneel in devotion and love, to cut away his bloodstained clothes, to dress his wounds. in the trenches or in the ruins under shell-fire, young officers wrote home about their men: they are too splindid for words! i'm proud to command such a topping crowd. they make ashamed of the things i used to think about the working man. there is nothing good for them............adapted from Sir Plilip Gibbs, ten years after ' 1926
In the shortest time within reach Nigeria may expirience the same scenerio that befelled the world in 1914. the issue of these Boko Haram terrorist group operating in some nothern state of Nigeria in the name of Islam may soon turn out to become a world history.
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