WSPU Flashcards
what is the NUWSS?
- National Union for Women’s Suffrage Society
- Formed in 1897
- Known as Suffragists
- Used Peaceful methods but were unsuccessful
What is the WSPU?
- Women’s Social and Political Union
- Formed in 1903
- Known as Suffragettes
- “Deeds, not Words”
Who led the WSPU?
the Pankhurst’s
- Initially had membership of small group of working class women
What happened in 1905?
Christabel Pankhurst adopted more militant tactics
- Meeting disruptions (speech by Sir Edward Grey)
- Demonstrations
- Heckling
They wanted to cause retributive acts to gain support for women
What happened in 1906?
Group of WSPU members broke into the House of Commons lobby
- 10 were arrested (9 of them being upper / middle class women)
- The arrests of respectable women caused outrage
Showed class divide and was valuable for public support
What happened in 1907?
WSPU held 1st Women’s Parliament at Caxton Hall
- Participants then led a march on Parliament
- 38 women were sent to Court and Most Arrested
Militancy helped win Publicity
What happened in 1908?
250,000 - 500,000 women met in Hyde Park demanding the vote
- Was responding to Asquith’s (PM) refusal to consider it
- Christabel started campaign of mass window breaking due to belief that violence will convince government
What happened in 1909?
WSPU organised a March on Parliament
- Treasury, Home Office and Privy Council Windows were smashed
- Jailed protesters began Hunger Strikes
- Led Government to introduce Forced Feedings
The Forced Feedings became a large part of WSPU Propaganda and led to the ‘Cat and Mouse’ Act
What was the ‘Cat and Mouse’ Act?
the Temporary Discharge for Ill Health Act
- Passed in 1913
- Meant women who were ill from Hunger Strikes would be sent home until they were healthy and then be Re-Arrested
- But was Hard to Enforce and Aroused Hostility
What happened in 1910?
Most Notorious Act of Militancy due to Government’s refusal to Debate legislation for Women’s Suffrage
- WSPU sent 300 women into the House of Commons
- Known as ‘Black Friday’
- Clashed with Police who were deliberately rough (Many women Physically and Sexually Assaulted)
What happened in 1911 & 1912?
Militancy became more Intense
- Arson
- Window Smashing
- Destruction of Art
What happened in 1913?
Campaign of Greater Intimidation
- Manchester Art Gallery hacked apart
- Damage to Streetlights, Golf Greens and Train Carriages
What were the Methods up to 1908?
- Disrupting Speeches
- Chaining Themselves to Railings
- Propaganda
- Women’s Parliament
How Effective was Disrupting Speeches up to 1908?
- Drew Attention to the WSPU
- Doesn’t lead to Response (They didn’t target any important figures)
- People may see it as Childish (Victorian Values of Respectability)
How Effective was Chaining to Railings up to 1908?
- Able to Foster Attention (Very out of Ordinary)
- No Major Response
- Seen as Childish (Victorian Values of Respectability)
How Effective was Propaganda up to 1908?
- Gained Popular Attention (Use of Badges, Sashes & Colours)
- Had a Push for Response (e.g. Hyde Park)
- Support is Gained & Visible (Use of Slogans)
How Effective was Women’s Parliament up to 1908?
- No gain of Public Attention (No public presence)
- Had a Response in Politics
How Effective was Women’s Parliament up to 1908?
- No gain of Public Attention (No public presence)
- Had a Response in Politics
What Changed the WSPU’s Methods in 1908?
- Asquith became PM
- Hyde Park Demonstration Ignored
How was the WSPU Organised?
Authoritarian and Top-Down (Emmeline “Wishes women to have votes [but] she will not allow them to have opinions”)
- Central Committee
- Sub-Committee
- ‘A Home’ Sessions
- 11 Regional Offices
What was the WSPU Membership like over the years?
- Growth was slow between 1903-05
- Membership boomed with the increase in Militarisation
- 1906 had 3 Branches, 1911 had 122
- Magazine ‘Votes for Women’ had over 40,000 copies in circulation
What was WSPU Leadership like?
Before 1905 the Main WSPU Speakers were: Emmeline Pankhurst, Christable Pankhurst, Adela Pankhurst, Sylvia Pankhurst and Teresa Billington-Greig
- Annie Kenney joined in 1905 (who provided a Working Class element to WSPU)
- Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence joined 1906 (who designed the Green, White & Purple Clothing)
How was the Central Committee Organised?
- Sylvia Pankhurst was Secretary
- Annie Kenney was Paid Organiser
- Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence was Treasurer
- Overall Leadership was Emmeline Pankhurst and Christabel Pankhurst
What was the relationship between the Central Committee and the Branches like?
Central Committee operated in London
- Local branches did have considerable Autonomy
- 1910 there was 98 Office Working Women in London & 28 Responsible for Regional Districts
- 1911 there were 64 London and Home Country Branches & 58 Branches Other Branches
There was also some tensions between branches
- Liverpool branch refused to stop hosting open air meetings when instructed
What was the WSPU’s Social Base and Composition like?
- Began with support base of Northern Working Class Women
- 1906 Christabel severed Alliance with Labour & moved WSPU base to London
- This led to an Increase in Wealthy Women supporters
This benefitted the WSPU as Wealthy Women had more Money and Free Time - Able to Raise £200,000 by 1907
What were the Reasons for the Failure of the 1909 Women’s Suffrage Bill?
- Bill for both Male and Female Suffrage based on 3 month Residency Qualification by Liberals
Failed due to: - Disagreement between Conservatives and Liberals - Conservatives only wanted the bill with Property Qualification
- Bill ran out of Time
- Asquith didnt push for bill due to personal Opposition to Women’s Suffrage
What were the Reasons for the Failure of the 1910 Conciliation Bill?
- Conciliation Committee drew up a Bill approved by both Conservatives and Liberals (and supported by WSPU)
- Proposed female householders & business owners with £10 income could vote
Failed due to: - Christabel denounced bill
- Asquith opposed bill
- Churchill and Lloyd George criticised bill
- 1910 Constitutional Crisis led to Election / Dissolution of Parliament
What were the Reasons for the Failure of the 1911 Conciliation Bill?
Failed due to:
- Lloyd George promised to Return to bill at later date but Never did
- Due to Fear of Large Conservative Support
What were the Reasons for the Failure of the 1912 Conciliation Bill?
- Defeated by 14 Votes
Failed due to: - WSPU’s Millitant Tactics led to decrease in MP’s voting for the bill as Women seemed to Reckless to be Trusted
- Asquith persuaded Irish MP’s to drop support to secure Home Rule
What were the Reasons for the Failure of the 1913 Franchise Bill?
Bill was supported by Liberals, Labour and Conservatives and initially proposed to give vote to all working class men
- Asquith proposed to Strike word Men from the Bill to include women
Failed due to:
- Anti-Female Suffrage Conservative James Lowther said this would Invalidate the bill and Asquith Refused to Redraft the Bill
- Escalating Militancy from WSPU - Lloyd George said militancy made reform Impossible and was getting increasingly concerned about it
Was the WSPU a Success?
- Militancy attracted Publicity and Public Interest
- Led to increase in NUWSS membership
- Bills for Female Suffrage reappeared 10 years after WSPU militancy
- Decision for Female Suffrage could be said to be from Reduced Militancy in WWI
Why was the WSPU Unsuccessful?
- Failed to Achieve Female Suffrage by 1914 (Also Damaged chances of this for the Future)
- Failed to Attract Support Base
- Alienated their Allies
Why did the WSPU fail to Attract a Support Base?
- Never reached Membership over 2,000
- Militancy turned people against it
- Seen as Middle & Upper Class Movement
- Little Involvement of Men
- Pankhurst’s Dictatorial Leadership
