History- Women's Rights in 1903 Flashcards
The campaign for women’s votes wasn’t new in 1903 – but after 1903 the nature of the campaign changed as women turned to direct action. Some campaigns were peaceful, some weren’t and no one could agree which was more effective, so the campaign was split into two separate groups, which were:
The suffragettes and the suffragists
What was the formal name for the suffragists?
The Suffragists formal name was the National union of women’s suffrage societies (NUWSS).
When were the suffragists formed?
1897
Who was the leader of the suffragists?
Millicent Fawcett
What were the three main tactics for the suffragists?
persuasion
Meetings
Petitions to Parliament
What was the suffragettes formal name?
The suffragettes formal name was the women’s social and political union (WSPU).
Who was the founder of the suffragettes?
Emmeline Pankhurst
When were the suffragettes founded?
1903
What had Emmeline Pankhurst previously founded and what did it do?
Emmeline Pankhurst had previously founded the Women’s Franchise League (WSL) which campaigned to get women the vote in local elections.
The Suffragettes didn’t mind getting arrested. It attracted some sympathy and showed they were serious. In 1905 Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney heckled Sir Edward Grey, who was speaking at a meeting in Manchester, and ended up in prison for a week.
They hoped the Liberal government after 1906 would be sympathetic. They were encouraged by the 1907 qualification of women act which let women become county and borough councillors, or Mayors. However, in 1908, Asquith, a Liberal, became prime minister – he was against votes for women.
The Suffragettes became frustrated with the slow progress of the campaign and the government did not seem very sympathetic to the cause – so this called for a new plan of attack.
By 1912 the liberal government had accepted the idea of some women voting, and try to put it into their plural voting bill for Parliament to discuss. But the speaker refused to let them add it, the suffragettes were furious and protests got far more extreme and violent.
Give examples of the extreme things the Suffragettes did?
suffragettes chained themselves to railings outside Downing Street and Buckingham Palace.
They physically assaulted politicians. The Prime Minister, Asquith, was attacked on a golf course. Suffragettes tried to tear off his clothes and beat him with dog whips.
They destroyed paintings in the National Gallery, and smashed shop windows.
Suffragettes made arson attacks on postboxes, churches and railway stations. In 1913, they even bombed the house of Lloyd George, who was very sympathetic to votes for women.
At the 1913 Derby at Epsom, the suffragette called Emily Davison threw herself under the feet of the King’s horse. She died of her injuries.
What was the Suffragists and the government opinion of the suffragettes actions?
Suffragists thought these tactics held the campaign back. The government didn’t want to be seen to be giving into violence. The violence also put off many moderate supporters.
How did the government deal with the suffragettes?
they sent many suffragettes to prison. The suffragettes often went on hunger strike, so the prison authorities force-fed them, but this was dangerous and violent.
The so-called “cat and mouse act” was passed in 1913. Under this act the authorities could release hunger strikers then rearrest them when they were fit again.
