The Women's Social and Political Union 1903-1914

When was 'Black Friday' and what did it involve?

1. 18th November 1910 2. This was a direct result of the failure of the first conciliation bill in parliament (due to filabusting). 3. 300 WSPU members protest the failure of the conciliation bill and are met violently by the police. 38 women are seriously injured, and several are sexually assaulted by the authorities to 'teach them a lesson'.

What are the three key 'periods' we can divide suffragette action into? What characterises these three periods?

1. 1903-1905 - a relatively subdued / quiet period of protest. 2. 1905-1908 - militancy is officially introduced into the campaign. 3. 1908-1914 - gradually increasing and sustained militancy, which continued to grow until the group disbands in 1914.

What and when was the 'Mud March'? What was its long term significance for the movement?

1. 1907 - This was the first large-scale, publicised demonstration for women's suffrage, and it was organised by the NUWSS. 2. It involved the gathering of 3,000 women in Hyde Park. It was arguably the failure of the government to respond to this movement with any notion or promise of legislature that generated the 'turning point' in the next stage of suffragette militancy.

In what year did the suffragettes establish their anti-male policy? What impact did this have on membership and publicity?

1. 1912 2. This leads to the withdrawal of the Pethwick-Lawrences, isolates existing suffragette supporters in the commons and attracts generally negative publicity.

Which legislative changes affected women's lives at the turn of the century, convincing many parliamentarians that votes for women were not necessary? List three:

1. All children (male and female) have access to schooling up to the age of 13, and an increasingly high number of women are being admitted into higher education. 2. Women are now permitted to join trade unions. 3. They are granted the vote in local elections during this period.

How did suffragette actions arguably cause the most damage to negotiations of the third conciliation bill?

1. At the time of the third conciliation bill negotiations, 91 MPs approved of female suffrage, but voted against the bill on the grounds of increased suffragette militancy. 2. This is a strong argument against the effectiveness of militancy and Emmeline's Pankhurst's autocratic control over the movement.

Outline one positive and one negative aspect of Emily Davison's death on the advancement of the suffragette cause:

1. Critics felt that this was evidence of the irrational and dramatic nature of the suffragette movement. 2. Others felt that it was a sign of the importance and commitment of the women to achieve access to the franchise - her funeral was utilised almost as propaganda in this regard.

What is some evidence to suggest that the introduction of militant tactics was beneficial to the suffragette movement and the size of its following?

1. Growth in movement membership had been slow from 1903-1905, and the movement only had 30 members by the end of 1905. 2. The introduction of militancy greatly increased membership. In 1906, the WSPU had three branches, but by 1911 it had 122.

What does Asquith propose as a a response to the events of 'Black Friday'. Does he follow through on this proposal?

1. He proposes a second conciliation bill (after the failure of the first - resulting in the events of Black Friday). 2. However, this fails - triggering the return of militant violence from the suffragettes.

What was the first display of Suffragette militancy?

1. In 1905, Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney were imprisoned after interrupting a liberal rally in Manchester. 2. Despite attempts by both Winston Churchill and Emmeline to pay fines for their release, Christabel refused - believing that imprisonment would generate necessary publicity for the movement.

Who was 'Lowther' and what was his impact on the failed progress of the suffragette movement?

1. In 1913, a male suffrage bill is introduced, and Lloyd George recommends striking the word 'male' from the bill, and instead allowing the enfranchisement of women as well. 2. However, Lowther - Conservative speaker of the house, argued that such an amendment would change the nature of the bill and therefore couldn't be allowed. 3. This quashed the last significant parliamentary attempt for female enfranchisement before the start of the First World War.

What took place in Hyde Park in 1908, and what was the impact of this on the Liberal government?

1. In response to Asquith's claim that he had not witnessed sufficient support for female suffrage, between 250,000 and 500,000 women gathered in Hyde Park in 1908 in protest of women's exclusion from the franchise. 2. Asquith and his government remained 'unmoved'.

Which suffragette members were involved in the smashing of Downing Street's windows? When did this take place, and what did it result in?

1. May 1912 2. Emmeline Pankhurst and the Pethwick Lawrences are sentenced to 9 months imprisonment after smashing the windows of 10 Downing Street - largely in response to the failure of the third conciliation bill.

What event caused the first imprisonment of a group of suffragettes? What was particularly significant about those imprisoned (give an example).

1. On the 25th October 1906, a WSPU group broke into the Commons lobby with a colourful demonstration for female suffrage. 2. 10 of these women were arrested for 'disturbing the peace' and consequentially sent to prison, with 9 of these women being upper class and wealthy. 3. One particularly notable prisoner was Mrs Cobden Sanderson, the daughter of the renowned reform politician Richard Cobden.

Who comprised the central committee of the suffragette movement?

1. Sylvia Pankhurst - secretary 2. Emmeline Pethwick - Lawrence - treasurer 3. Christabel Pankhurst - chief organiser 4. Annie Kenney - salaried organiser.

What was the actual name of the 'cat and mouse act' passed by the government, and in what year was it passed? What was the effect of this bill on the movement?

1. The 'Temporary Discharge for Ill Health Act' was passed in 1913. 2. It attracted significantly negative publicity for parliament - increasing support for the suffragettes.

Who joined the movement in 1906? What was the impact of this on suffragette organisation and effectiveness?

1. The Pethwick-Lawrences joined the movement, a wealthy, upper class couple who provided much needed financial support for the WSPU. 2. Emmeline Pethwick-Lawrence became treasurer for the WSPU, and was also responsible for the introduction of their uniform - clothing in white, green and purple to respectively symbolise purity, hope and dignity.

List a key factor making female suffrage a low priority for the liberal government in 1903?

1. The question of Irish Home Rule divided parliament. 2.

How many branches of the WSPU are there by 1911?

1. There are 64 branches of the WSPU across London. There are 58 across the rest of the country. 2. 122 altogether.

In what year did the Conservative Party first endorse female suffrage?

1888.

Which petition showed significant support for the cause of female suffrage? How many signed it, and in what year?

1894 - A petition for female enfranchisement gains 250,000 signatures - the biggest petition since the Chartist movement.

When was the NUWSS established?

1897.

In what year was the WSPU formed?

1903.

In what year did Emmeline Pankhurst revoke her support for the ILP? What effect did this have on WSPU membership?

1906. This encouraged a change in the social composition of the Party - resulting in much higher membership of the upper classes and wealthy, Conservative women.

When did Asquith become prime minister?

1908

In what year did the government first actively attempt to reduce the number of suffragette arrests? Why was this?

1908 - they were aware that arrests were generating huge amounts of support and publicity for the suffragette movement, who were presented as 'martyrs' as a result of their treatment in prisons.

In what year do the suffragettes suspend their militancy, and on what grounds?

1910, after the creation of the parliamentary conciliation committee - comprising of both Liberals and Conservatives, to determine the terms of the first conciliation bill.

In what year was Pankhurst herself sentenced to 3 years imprisonment?

1913

What was the circulation of the 'Votes for Women' newsletter after 1910?

40,000

What committee was created in 1910?

A conciliation committee was created in 1910, comprising of both liberals and conservatives, to determine the terms of the first conciliation bill.

Which 'demonstration' was held in June 1912?

A mass hunger strike was held in response to the suffragettes being repeatedly refused the status of political prisoners.

What was the significance of Adela Pankhurst regarding the changing composition of the Suffragette movement?

Adela Pankhurst failed to conceal her socialist mindset from the increasingly Conservative movement structure, and was therefore convinced by her mother to emigrate to Australia in order to avoid further embarrassment.

What is Asquith's quote regarding votes for women? What did he demand to see before the question of female suffrage could be considered?

He argued that women had 'no more right to vote than a rabbit', and declared that he had not witnessed sufficient 'mass' demand for female suffrage to consider it as an issue.

Who was Geoffrey Howard, and what is his significance in the chronology of the suffragettes?

He proposed an initial private member's bill for female suffrage in 1909, which failed after the commons failed to allocate sufficient time to discuss it (filabusting).

In what year did the Pankhursts and their movement first adopt militant tactics? What were the 'features' of this low level militancy?

In 1905, lover level militant tactics, such as disruptions, demonstrations and heckling were introduced officially by Christabel Pankhurst.

How did the 'Women's Freedom League' impact on the suffragette movement?

In 1907, a group of core WSPU members left the suffragette movement as a result of increased levels of militancy - they joined the 'Women's Freedom League'.

In what year did the first series of hunger strikes and forcible feeding take place? Who remains exempt from this practice, and why?

In 1909, the first series of hunger strikes took place in prisons (such as Holloway), and the government responded with forced feeding - which arguably only increased the status of imprisoned suffragettes as 'martyrs'. Emmeline Pankhurst herself was never force fed.

When do the suffragettes resume their levels of militant violence?

In 1911, after the failure of the second conciliation bill.

Outline the details of the act of militancy performed on Lloyd George himself - in which year did this take place?

In 1913, Lloyd George's country house was burned down.

When is the third conciliation bill rejected by parliament? What role does Asquith play in this?

In March 1912. The bill is rejected by 13 votes, due to a deal made by Asquith with the Irish Nationalists, arguing that if they vote against the bill, he will allow home rule.

How did the composition of the suffragette movement change between 1903 and 1914.

It evolved from a predominantly working class association - with links to the labour party, to a primarily upper class association.

What was one potentially negative impact regarding acts of militancy on individual parliamentary members such as Lloyd-George?

It was felt by many suffragette supporters that acts of violence and arson should not be targeted at individual parliamentarians, and that these individual acts were also targeted at the wrong members of the house - sympathetic MPs such as Lloyd George and Winston Churchill.

Who (perhaps surprisingly) opposes the second conciliation bill in 1911?

Lloyd-George. He argues that it is only wealthy, Conservative women who are enfranchised under the bill.

Who was the leader of the NUWSS?

Millicent Fawcett - who had been instrumental in the campaign for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts.

Which anti-suffragette organisation is established in 1908?

Mrs Humphrey Ward establishes the Women's National Anti-Suffrage League in response to the suffragette's militancy.

What does 'NUWSS' stand for?

National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies

When was the death of Emily Davison?

November 1913

Why did the NUWSS opposed the suffragette's use of militancy?

One of their stronger arguments for the proposition of female suffrage was on the grounds of women's moral superiority to men. WSPU violence undermined this completely.

How many churches were victims of arson attacks in the last two years of the suffragette movement?

Over 50 churches were burned down as a result of arson attacks. This activity was directed by Christabel Pankhurst - who believed the Church was instrumental in holding up 'old fashioned' values for women.

What was the name of Sylvia Pankhurst's alternative suffragette movement?

She formed the East London Federation of Suffragettes. This was considered significantly too socialist for her family members.

Which militant tactic is officially adopted by the suffragettes in 1908 - largely in response to Asquith's unbending views regarding female suffrage.

Stone throwing was adopted as official policy in this period, and was engaged in by Emmeline Pankhurst herself.

Who was expelled from the suffragette movement in 1914? On what grounds?

Sylvia Pankhurst was expelled, due to her increased disapproval of her sister's militancy.

In what year did the Liberal Party first endorse female suffrage?

The Independent Labour Party officially endorses the extension of voting rights to all men and women (8 years after the Conservatives).

Give one example of tensions between the central, London regions of the WSPU, and the provincial / regional branches?

The Liverpool branch of the WSPU was a very socialist organisation. Instead of the most 'fashionable' drawing room meetings typical of the London WSPU movement, the Liverpool province and its audience preferred open air meetings - more popular with working class women. When the central leadership demanded drawing room meetings instead, the Liverpool branch refused.

Which anti-suffrage organisation was established in 1909?

The Lords Curzon and Cromer form the 'Men's League for Opposing Women's Suffrage'.

What is 'filabusting' ?

The deliberate attempt by a Commons gathering to avoid the discussion or debate of a particular issue until 'time' is called on the meeting.

What was the motto of the WSPU? What was this is response to?

The motto of the movement was 'deeds not words', in response to parliament's failure to grant women the vote, despite the majority of the commons being pro-female suffrage by 1884.

Which event permanently halted the actions of the suffragettes?

The outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

Which two other government movements encouraged the WSPU to employ violent tactics?

Witnessing violence within the movement for Irish Home Rule, and the increased militancy that accompanied the rise of the Independent Labour Party, women were inspired to insight militancy for their own cause.

What was the 'Women's Parliament' organised by the WSPU, and what were its consequences?

Women held their 'own parliament' in Caxton Hall in Westminster in February 1907, and subsequently performed a march on Parliament, which resulted in their suppression by the police, and the arrest of 38 women - including Sylvia and Christabel Pankhurst.

What does 'WSPU' stand for?

Women's Social and Political Union