Final answer:
Women in the 1920s were allowed to vote primarily as a reward for their contributions during World War I, along with a belief in their potential to advocate for moral reform and social welfare. The Nineteenth Amendment in the US and similar legislation abroad marked the success of the suffrage movement, which was rooted in progressive reasoning and recognition of the evolving social and economic roles of women.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of allowing women to vote in the 1920s was primarily a reward for their efforts and support during World War I. The suffrage movement gained momentum as women took on more roles traditionally reserved for men due to the war effort, such as working in industries and serving in the medical corps. Recognizing these contributions, politicians became more inclined to support the idea of female suffrage. In the United States, the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 granted women the right to vote. Likewise, countries like Germany, Poland, and Britain saw a phased approach to women's suffrage rights, with Britain first granting voting rights to property-owning women over thirty in 1918 and later extending this right to all women over twenty-one in 1928.
However, the logic behind extending voting rights to women was not solely based on their contributions during wartime. There was also an underlying belief that women would support moral reform and social welfare, especially regarding child labor laws, public health, and prohibition. The overall suffrage movement was underpinned by progressive ideas and the recognition of women's growing role in public life, education, and the workforce.
Despite these advancements, some countries still had restrictions or delayed allowing women to vote until much later. France and Italy, for example, did not grant women the right to vote until 1945. But by the 1920s, the momentum for change was strong, with more countries recognizing the need to grant women suffrage rights, pushed forward by the tireless work of suffragists and changing social and economic conditions.