Suffragettes - Women's Social And Political Union Tactics From 1903-1918 - IN EXAM

Question 1

How many different types of tactics did the suffragettes use

Answer 1

2

Question 2

What were the 2 different types of tactics

Answer 2

Constitutional (peaceful) and violent

Question 3

Explain the well known constitutional tactic of the hunger strike

Answer 3

• It came around in 1909, where on July 2nd 1909, a suffragette called Marion Wallace Dunlop was sent to prison.
• Marion had decided to try a new tactic, she said she would refuse to eat unless the government treated her as a political prisoner.
• Her request was declined and on the 5th of July her hunger strike began.
• Days went by where she refused to eat, the government didn’t give in to her demand, but
  after 91 hours without food, they set her free.
• When more Suffragettes were sent to prison, they too went on hunger strike and within a month it had become a usual tactic in prison.

Question 4

List some other constitutional tactics used by the suffragettes/WSPU

Answer 4

• petitions
• banners
• protests
• campaigning
• mass rallies
• disturbing speakers
• marches
• merchandising
• handing out leaflets
• plays
• poems
• newspapers

Question 5

Explain the well known violent tactic of stone throwing

Answer 5

• The stone throwing tactic began when Liberal Prime Minister refused to meet a group of suffragettes.
• They were so frustrated that 2 of them threw stones at the windows of 10 Downing Street and were imprisoned.
• As a protest against the brutal treatment of women before arrest, the WSPU had officially decided to break the windows of government offices, with stones wrapped in appropriate messaged and tied with string were knocked against the glass and dropped inside.

Question 6

List some other violent tactics used by the WSPU/suffragettes

Answer 6

• burning messages into golf courses
• acid in pillar boxes
• wrecking plants
• cutting through telegraph wires
• attacks on golf and rowing clubs
• chalking
• attacks in the homes of MPs and the PM
• destroying valuable artwork
• setting postboxes on fire
• disrupting political meetings with publicity
• smashing shop windows in Regent, Oxford and Bond Street