WSPU Flashcards
Organisation and tactics
Moto ‘deeds not words’
- 1913 13 paintings in Manchester art gallery were hacked apart.
- Increased violence alienated non-violent campaigners. Fawcett was particularly disappointed.
1905 Annie Kenney joined and added a working-class element. 1906 Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence and her husband Fredrick joined and provided funding. The couple also encouraged the use of pageantry, music and drama to popularise the cause. She designed suffragette clothing in purple, white and green symbolising purity, hope and dignity.
Central committee, subcommittee, 11 regional offices
Between 1906 and 1907 the WSPU spent £2,494 on campaigning but by 1907 it was able to raise £20,000. Soon employed more paid staff than the labour party.
Extent of support
In 1907, Charlotte Despard and Teresa Billington-Grieg left the WSPU to form the WFL, taking 1/5 of the WSPU’s members with them. 7 splits in total.
1908 Hyde park meeting 250,000-500,000 gathered showing widespread support.
In 1906 WSPU had 9 branches, in 1911 is had 122. 1910 the circulation of votes for women was 40,000. Initially consisted of a small number of working-class women. 1905 it had 30 members.
Reasons for heightened militancy after 1908
- Asquith’s stalling tactics frustrated suffragettes, accelerating the adoption of
increasingly militant methods.
Impact of increased militancy after 1908
1910 WSPU feared Asquith was delaying the vote and launched an attack on parliament, many pro-suffrage MPs lost support. Their actions played into the hands of anti-suffrage movements. Public support was badly shaken. Violence undermined the debate in favour of female suffrage. Before 1911, the conservative party conferences had on 6 occasions passed votes in favour of female suffrage. In 1912 and 1913, conferences voted to oppose the measure. George Lansbury lost his seat for supporting female suffrage.
Emily Davidson
Arrested on 9 occasions and force-fed a total of 49 times. Epsom Derby 1913 she died jumping in front of the kings horse trying to attach a WSPU banner to the horse. Became the first widely acknowledged martyr to the cause and an inspiration to others. The Pankhurst’s seized on the tragedy
and gave her a heroine’s funeral. Thousands of mourners attended
the ceremony in Bloomsbury, with ten bands accompanying her
coffin from Victoria to King’s Cross.
Christabel Pankhurst
Enforced a clear strategy of militancy from 1905. Nov 1905 disturbed a public meeting before spitting on a policeman and getting arrested. Recognised imprisonment could be a valuable tool to secure public sympathy. Directed the move towards the conservatives. 1913-14 exiled to France to avid imprisonment. Kept the party focused on female suffrage by opposing efforts of other members to involve them in different campaigns, such as health for working-class women.
Emmeline Pankhurst
At the helm of the WSPU throughout its existence. Powerhouse of the organisation. Provided a magnetism and attracted many dedicated women to the movement. Directed the initial move to establish the WSPU. Sometimes her autocratic style alienated members. Directed tactics. 1905 relocated to London to be more central. During periods of militancy she led marches and gave speeches. She was imprisoned many times and took the lead in hinger strikes. Firm leadership held the movement together in the midst of splits.
Sylvia Pankhurst
Joined the WSPU in 1906. As an artist, she played a crucial role in designing many posters, journal covers and banners. Spring 1913 arrested 3 times. 1911 she published The suffragette: The History of the women’s militant suffrage movement, 1905-1910. Never fully supported militancy. Kept ties with the labour government. 1913 left the WSPU, brought in support from working-class women.
Extent of WSPU success by 1914
- increased public awareness
- increased membership
-political attention - support from some politicians
HOWEVER - limited success in parliament
- internal struggles
- oppression and repression
- incomplete victory
Government attitudes towards female suffrage
Many politicians supported female suffrage yet political calculations undermined this. Asquith knew the conservatives had more to gain from women getting the vote. Some politicians didn’t believe that a majority of women wanted the vote. Fear of change. Dislike for militancy. Lack of consensus, 1906 400 out of 650 MPs supported some form of female suffrage but no reforms passed until 1918.
Reasons for the failure of the women’s suffrage bill 1909
Carried 35 votes on second reading but failed to proceed after extensive debate time wasted the time allocated to its passing. Two key obstacles to franchise reform in 1909: party deadlock and Herbert Asquith. He was a target of militant behaviour in 1913 he was assaulted by women brandishing dog whips. These acts of militancy strengthened his resolve.
The Conciliation Committee
All party committee appointed to address the question of female suffrage. Supported by the NUWSS and the WSPU, had 54 MPs. Found a path to conciliation between the liberals and the conservatives over how to give women suffrage without handing a party a large advantage.
Conciliation bill 1910
Asquith specifically used suffragette militancy to oppose the bill. Passed second reading in July by 110 votes. A’s govt prioritised business in the cabinet and sidelined female suffrage. WSPU and NUWSS aimed for limited female suffrage of only 1 million women.
Conciliation bill 1911
Second conciliation bill passed May 1911, 255 votes to 208 as a private members bill. However, Lloyd George announced his opposition fearing it would provide the conservatives with more voters. Not given parliamentary time but Asquith supported a promise that a similar measure would be given time if it passed its second reading (1912).
The Government Franchise bill 1913
Amendment to strike the word ‘male’ out of the bill so it included women, suggested by Lloyd George. James Lowther personally opposed. Asquith refused to draft a replacesment bill. led to more WSPU violence.
Asquith’s opposition, parliamentary procedure and political deadlock were all important for the failure of the bill.