WSPU Flashcards
What was the NUWSS?
from 1897
led by Millicent Fawcett
focused on unifying the many groups campaigning for female suffrage
How did the WSPU begin?
- 1903 in Manchester
- EP broke away from the ILP
- autocratically led by the Pankhursts, who demanded complete obedience
- no constitution, annual meetings or accounts.
- moved to London in 1905
What were the aims of the WSPU?
- pressure the ILP, who were divided over their support for the WSPU
- achieve female suffrage at an equal status to men (so votes for all m/c)
- free women from enslavement in social role of insufficient rights
what were the early tactics of the WSPU? (up to 1908)
- ‘The suffragette’ journal
- marches such as the may day parades, with iconic green and purple banners
- February 1907 mud march
- June 1908 march of 30,000 women
what forms of militancy were already present in 1908?
- heckling ministers at public meetings
- hunger strikes in prison, made famous by Marrion Wallace-Dunlop
What evidence is there of increased militancy 1909-1910?
- CP led a wave of attacks on property in 1909, including the hose of Lloyd George
- storm political locations such as downing street, where 27 were arrested in 1909 for throwing stones through the windows
- 18th November 1910 Black Friday
- 1909, gov start force feeding those in jail
what happened 1911-12?
in 1911 the government proposed the conciliation bill, and the WSPU suspended militant tactics.
The bill failed due to lack of parliamentary time and the WSPU considered this a betrayal
how did militancy escalate 1912-14?
- wave of attacks in west end shops, post boxes and golf courses
- Rokeby Venus slashed by a knife
- In Bristol, suffragettes burned a uni building, timber yard and two mansions
- Emily Davison 1913
- 1913 Cat and Mouse Act
what was the effect of increased militancy 1912-14?
reduced public support
tensions within the WSPU, which EP dealt with by expelling members
What happened to the WSPU in 1914?
when ww1 broke out the WSPU ended militant campaigns as a show of patriotism. The Suffragette journal was renamed the Britannia
What was Emmeline Pankhurst’s role within the WSPU?
- member of liberal party
- 1889, formed Women’s Franchise league
- became frustrated and founded WSPU
- dictatorial leader, barred men from involvement. NUWSS was more democratic.
- led marches, gave public speeches, imprisoned several times
- when many left in 1913, her firm leadership held it together
What was Sylvia Pankhurst’s role within the WSPU?
- artist. Did posters, banners and journal covers
- imprisoned in 1906 and 1913 and joined hunger strikes
- never fully supported militancy
- close relationship with Keir Hardie and labour
- 1913 left to form ELFS, gaining support from the working classes
- Her 1913-14 arrests led to fighting between supporters and police, bringing attention to WSPU and damaging some mc support
What was Christabel Pankhurst’s role within the WSPU?
- studied law
- particularly radical
- 1905 arrested with Annie Kenney
- organised meetings and protests
- jailed 1907 and 1909
- exiled self to France 1913
- maintained militancy and focus on female suffrage
What was Emily Davison’s role within the WSPU?
- several prison senatnces
- 1909 threw rocks at carriage of Lloyd George. Spent month in prison, where she went on a hunger strike and locked self in cell. Prison flooded her out and she nearly drowned
- sued prison, gaining publicity
- 1913 Epson Derby, huge publicity
How did the conservative government (1895-1905) view the issue of female suffrage?
- hostile
- would consider enfranchising properties women, as they would vote for the conservatives
- Salisbury, Balfour and Bonar Law were all willing to consider limited female suffrage
How did the liberal government (1905-22) view the issue of female suffrage?
- open support
- 1907 and 1909 Women’s suffrage bill
- feared giving vote to women might increase the strength of some pressure groups and give advantage to conservatives
- Asquith particularly opposed suffrage, but from 1916 Lloyd George was more supportive
How did the labour party view the issue of female suffrage?
- wanted universal suffrage for all women and men
- didn’t want mere m/c enfranchisement so fell put with WSPU
- only 29 MPs by 1906 anyway
How did the general government view the issue of female suffrage?
- overall lack of consensus meant there was no real government support
- in 1906 400/650 MPs supported some form of female suffrage but no bills were successfully passed until 1918
How did the government respond to increasing militancy?
- initial relaxed stance, as many activists had connections to political parties anyway
- as militancy increased so did arrests, which did not look good for the gov, especially once activists learned jujitsu
- combatted by short prison sentences and fines, which reduced publicity opportunities
How did the government respond to hunger strikes?
- force feeding restrained prisoners
- 1913 cat and mouse act
- created controversy but prevented any deaths in prison that would create a martyr
What happened with the Women’s suffrage bill 1909?
- would give some women and all men the vote
- passed the second reading stage
- not given enough debate time
- other considerations took precedent e.g. peoples budget and social welfare programmes funded by higher taxes on the wealthy
- focus on 1910 election campaigns instead
What happened with the Conciliation Committee 1910?
- NUWSS and WSPU joined forces to aim for limited suffrage
- halt on militant activities
- petition of 250,000 names
- No support from Asquith
- passed second reading by 100 votes, but Asquith declared there was no time to debate
What happened with the Conciliation Bill 1911?
- this time as a private members bill
- was promised a week of parliamentary time
- passed its reading
- simultaneously, Asquith proposed a universal male suffrage law with female suffrage added
- after increased violence the bill was abandoned
What happened with the Conciliation Bill 1912?
-this time it was voted down
- issue of Irish home rule became more serious so Irish MPs voted against
- WSPU militancy had alienated most
What happened with the Government Franchise Bill 1913?
- Bill for increased male suffrage
- Asquith suggested an amendment adding female suffrage
- Speaker in HoC said it was not legally possible to add the female suffrage
- arson attacks in 1913 pushed away moderate supporters
Did the WSPU get much support?
Arguably attracted support for NUWSS who had 50,000 members by 1913
WSPU never got more than 2,000 members
Main journal, votes for women, small circulation of 20,000
why did the WSPU have limited support?
- militant tactics alienate upper and middle classes
- only appealed to those with property and status. w/c more concerned with social equality not vote. WSP insisted on only focusing on one issue
- alienated male support
- Pankhurst’s dictatorial style
- alienate political allies e.g. Lloyd George
what was the effect of Pankhurst’s dictatorial style?
1907 supporters left to form Women’s freedom league
1912 supporters left to form the United suffragists
How could the WSPU be considered successful?
- attracted publicity
- increased attention led more to join the NUWSS
- Bills in gov
- 1918 act could be fuelled by desire to prevent return to militancy in post-war period
How could the WSPU be considered unsuccessful?
- marches and protests were met with anti-suffrage violence
- increasing public criticism
- 1897, 1904, 1907 and 1911 bills passed their second reading with overwhelming support
- 11912 and 1913 bills rejected due to less support
