Unit 6: WSPU's organisation and support Flashcards
Describe WSPU’s organisation and support.
The WSPU’s militant tactics gave the organisation and the women’s suffrage movement more support.
WSPU and NUWSS seen as rivals between 1903-9 but had the same movement; tensions rose post-1908 due to WSPU’s increasing use of violence.
Growth was slow between 1903-5 but the advent of militancy sparked a significant increase in membership.
In 1906, WSPU had three branches- by 1911 they had 122 from circulation of its journal: ‘Votes for Women’, with over 40,000 in 1910.
Christabel and Emmeline directed the WSPU, and the five main speakers were Adela and Sylvia Pankhurst, and Teresa Billington-Greig.
Annie Kenney added the working class element to the leadership.
In 1906, Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence and her husband Frederick joined which added financial and organisational skill, ensuring the WSPU was well funded.
It was the NUWSS that made sure the 1906 Liberal government included a majority of members sympathetic to women’s suffrage campaigns.
Describe the branches of the WSPU.
In 1911, there were 64 London and hone country branches and 58 WSPU branches in England.
Tensions often rose between the London and WSPU and its provincial organisations eg Liverpool branch (working class) refused to hold meetings to encourage middle class membership.
Describe the change in location.
In 1906, Christabel severed the organisation’s alliance with Labour and moved the WSPU’s base from Manchester to London because of an increasing disillusionment with the ILP in securing women the vote.
Transformed the WSPU’s social composition0 without its socialist alliances, wealthy women were encouraged to join.
The wealthy women donated more money and had more time to commit eg in 1906 WSPU spent £2,494 but by 1907 it was able to raise £20,000.
WSPU became elitist, London-centric movement, dominated by wealthy socialites.
Emmeline and Christabel claimed the movement was not socially elite, appealing to all women but questions still remained as to whether the aim was universal suffrage or limited property-based suffrage.
Securing support of working class men was difficult as many thought women would vote Conservative or Liberal which may cause a drop in wages- didn’t like upper/middle class women interfering in their movement.
