2. The Movement for Women’s Suffrage

3. Early Movements Most working class men had the vote after 1884 A few men backed the idea that women should also be enfranchised Martin Anderson was a Scottish artist who produced several postcards like the one above in support of the women's suffrage movement. The postcard refers to the Married Women's Property Act.

4. National Union of Suffrage Societies In 1866 a group of women from the Kensington Society organised a petition that demanded that women should have the same political rights as men. John Stuart Mill added an amendment to the Reform Act that would give women the same political rights as men. The amendment was defeated by 196 votes to 73. Members of the Kensington Society were very disappointed when they heard the news and they decided to form the London Society for Women's Suffrage. 1867 Millicent Fawcett joined the group and soon became the leader of the London suffragists. Similar Women's Suffrage groups were formed all over Britain. One of the most important of these was in Manchester, where Lydia Becker emerged as a significant figure in the movement. In 1887 seventeen of these individual groups joined together to form the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). Lydia Becker was elected as president. Three years later, when Becker died, Millicent Fawcett became the new leader of the organisation.

5. The Suffragists (NUWSS) “Peaceful Persuasion” The NUWSS held public meetings, organised petitions, wrote letters to politicians, published newspapers and distributed free literature.

6. Peaceful methods In 1913 the National Union of Women Suffrage Societies(NUWSS) had nearly had 100,000 members. It was decided to hold a Women's Pilgrimage to show Parliament how many women wanted the vote. Members of the NUWSS set off in the middle of June, and during the next six weeks held a series of meetings all over Britain. An estimated 50,000 women reached Hyde Park in London on 26th July.

7. Why did women want the vote?

9. “Deeds not Words” Emmeline Pankhurst Founded Women’s Franchise League in 1889 1903 - Women’s Social and Political Union founded (WSPU). Pankhurst led this. Militant methods

10. The Pankhursts Emmeline, Christabel and Sylvia Pankhurst were all very active in the Suffragette campaign

11. WSPU (Suffragettes) WSPU formed because some women believed that the peaceful tactics of the Suffragists were not effective

12. The Suffragette campaign 1906 - A deputation of suffragists, suffragettes, and politicians met the new Prime Minister, Campbell-Bannerman. He was personally in favour of women getting the vote but his cabinet were divided.

13. The Suffragette campaign Suffragettes adopted a more militant and aggressive approach. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Asquith, was a leading opponent of women’s suffrage. 1907 - suffragettes split into 2 groups: WSPU and Women’s Freedom league (WFL)

14. The Campaign intensifies –By 1909 tactics more militant - Winston Churchill attacked by a woman with a dog whip –Asquith had his windows broken –Opposition from press and public increased: Daily Express - “the time for dealing gently with idle mischievous women who call themselves militant suffragists has gone by”

15. Militant tactics Chaining themselves to railings

16. Hunger Strikes In July, 1909, an imprisoned suffragette, Marion Dunlop, refused to eat. Afraid that she might die and become a martyr, it was decided to release her. Soon afterwards other imprisoned suffragettes adopted the same strategy. Unwilling to release all the imprisoned suffragettes, the prison authorities force-fed these women on hunger strike. In one eighteen month period, Emmeline Pankhurst, who was now in her fifties, endured ten of these hunger-strikes. Emmeline Pankhurst's sister, Mary Clarke, was a member of the WSPU in Brighton. Mary was force-fed at Holloway Prison in December, 1910. After being released she was taken ill at her home in Brighton and died soon afterwards of a broken blood vessel. Clarke, like several suffragettes, probably died as a result of being forced fed in prison.

17. Force feeding –July 1909 - Marion Wallace-Dunlop went on hunger strike to gain status of political prisoner –Many other imprisoned Suffragettes followed suit

18. Government reaction In her book Unshackled, Christabel Pankhurst explained the introduction of the 'Cat and Mouse' Act. The Home Secretary argued that the alternative to forcible feeding was to 'let the prisoners die'. He assured the House that women were prepared to die for the cause. 'It has been said,' he said, 'that not many women would die, but I think you would find that thirty, forty or fifty would come up, one after another.' Finally, he foreshadowed the introduction of a new legislative Act to deal with the matter. This proved to be the 'Cat and Mouse' Act, as it was quickly named by the critics of the Government.

19. Cat and Mouse Act Annie Kenney experienced the Cat and Mouse Act for the first time in April 1912. She explained what happened in her autobiography, Memories of a Militant. I had as my visitors the matron, the Governor, the doctor, the clergyman, and the visiting magistrate. They all asked me to eat and drink, but nothing would tempt me. The matron, the doctor and I became good friends. The doctor was ever so kind and did his best to persuade me to have fruit, but fruit was no use to me. "I must be out in three days, doctor, or I'll die on your hands!" And the good doctor did not want a death. In three days the gates were opened… Mrs. Brackenbury lent us her house at 2 Camden Hill Square. We called it 'Mouse Castle'. All the mice went there from prison and were nursed back to health and prepared for further danger work… When I recovered I was re-arrested.

20. Parliament Listens? Conciliation Bill introduced 1910 - proposed vote given to female property owners Winston Churchill / Asquith spoke against the Bill 1911 another Bill proposed. Failed to get a majority

21. The Suffragettes’ influence on Parliament How MPs cast their vote on the Women's Suffrage Bill (2 8th March, 1912) ForAgainst Liberals117 73 Conservatives 63114 Labour 25 0 Irish Nationalists 3 35 Total208222

22. Arson campaign In July 1912, Christabel Pankhurst began organizing a secret arson campaign. - A house being built for David Lloyd George, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was badly damaged by suffragettes. Railway stations, cricket pavilions, racecourse stands and golf clubhouses were set on fire. Slogans in favour of women's suffrage were cut and burned into the turf. Suffragettes also cut telephone wires and destroyed letters by pouring chemicals into post boxes.

23. Militancy Scene from one of the clashes between the suffragettes and the police in Parliament Square between 18-22 November 1910. During the three days of violence, 285 arrests were made, 75 women were in prison, many were injured, and three later died from injuries received.

24. Emily Davison In June, 1913, at the most important race of the year, the Derby, Emily ran out on the course and attempted to grab the bridle of Anmer, a horse owned by King George V. The horse hit Emily and the impact fractured her skull and she died without regaining consciousness.

25. Results of the campaign? 18 months before World war 1 are described as the “wild period’ of Suffragette actions. Emily Davison’s death turned into great propaganda exercise for “the cause’ Paintings slashed, houses and businesses fire bombed, and telegraph wires cut. Lot of evidence to show that the campaign of violence did more harm than good: Churchill said that “their campaign had marched backwards”