What is the Suffrage Movement?

The term suffrage simply means 'the right to vote, especially in a political election' (OUP, 2009, p.930) to have suffrage is to have the right to vote. Universal Suffrage is the right to vote for all whereas women's suffrage is exclusively concerned with the voting rights of women. Emancipation means 'to be set free from restrictions' (OUP, 2009, p.299). During the nineteenth century women strived for equality with men. They wanted equal pay, equal property rights, divorce rights and child custody rights to name a few. Female emancipation would be what women would have if all these restrictions were removed, they would become emancipated.

In the nineteenth century women had no place in politics 'they were not directly represented in the legislature because they were not allowed to become MP's or to vote' (Griffin, 2012, p.5). It was widely accepted that fathers and husbands would take responsibility for political matters, they believed they should 'leave the little woman at home while they made all the important business and political decisions' (Hazard, 2010)..

Women were often known as 'the angel of the house' (Phillips, 2003 ,p.17) The phrase Angel in the House is the title of an immensely popular poem by Coventry Patmore, in which he holds his angel wife up as a model for all women. The poem became increasingly popular with an image of a perfect wife expected to be devoted and submissive to her husband. This was not well received with feminists during the nineteenth century, particularly Virginia Woolf's publication Professions for Women where she 'famously kills Coventry Patmore's Angel in the House' (Blair, 2012, p.53).

Coventry Patmore's famous poem can be accessed via the following link:

http://www.poemhunter.com/i/ebooks/pdf/coventry_patmore_2012_3.pdf

http://www.housmans.com/booklists/Wollstonecraft.php

Women's oppression in society can be dated as far back as Mary Wollstonecraft's famous writing of A Vindication of the Rights of Women in 1792. Over the years that followed women in several different social classes began to tire of their homely image and society's attitudes towards them and they wanted 'opportunity for self-development' (Crawford, 2003, p.713).

   
As a result of the industrial revolution many working class women were in full time employment 'in certain places, women were the majority of industrial workers' (Goloboy, 2008, p.21).This meant they had opportunities to meet in large organised groups to discuss political and social issues. Middle class women spent their days talking to other middle class women who were somewhat informed of politics largely due to their husbands professions, this is where the movement began.

Small groups of women joined to create societies that would come together to campaign for universal suffrage. The movement began peacefully with the formation of Nation Union of Womens Suffrage Society (NUWSS) they gained support from fellow women, men and political party members. Their slow progression led to frustration and a new, more radical and militant wing was born with the formation of Womens Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1903 (Holton, 2003, p.31).

http://historiana.eu/sources/show/for-the-work-of-a-day

These two wings, the suffragists (NUWSS) and the suffragettes (WSPU) made up the suffrage movement (Holton, 2003, p.31).

From these societies that were formed there are key individuals  that went on to create, and take part in some of the most notable events in womens history.




After proving their worth during the absence of men during World War One Women over the age of thirty were granted the vote under The Representation of People Act 1918. (Trueman, 2000) universal suffrage was granted in 1928.


From the initial formation of these societies in the 1850's to the granting of universal suffrage in 1928 there is a vast timeline of events, a biography of key individuals and a history of events that shape our world today, all of this is what is included and known as The Suffrage Movement. 

http://www.nailslikelace.com/2012/03/sister-suffragette.html

A Vindication of the Rights of Women.

http://www.housmans.com/booklists/Wollstonecraft.php 

Mary Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) a book that is widely considered to be the 'founding text of modern feminism' (Craciun, 2002, p.36).

Mary Wollstonecraft's main argument is the inferior position of Women in Society at the time and how they do not have the opportunities to fulfill their potential and shape their own lives in terms of marriage and education. Her argument is that women have a 'neglected education' and as such are 'rendered weak and wretched'. (Wollstonecraft, 1792, p.1).

One of Mary Wollstonecraft's main arguments centred around education. Wollstonecraft says that women's minds 'are not in a healthy state...strength and usefulness are sacrificed to beauty' (Wollstonecraft, 1792, p.1) she attributed this to the 'false system of education' (Wollstonecraft, 1792, p.1). Wollstonecraft's explains this, by reason that, the books available for women to use to educate themselves were written primarily by men, therefore, displaying a males inferior view of women. Wollstonecraft goes on to say that if women received a better education then they could contribute to society by holding down established positions in 'the art of healing, and be physicians as well as nurses' (Wollstonecraft, 1792, p.26). She believed women's education would benefit society as it would 'save many from common and legal prostitution' (Wollstonecraft, 1792, p.28).

Marriage is also a reoccurring theme in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, she states that with the presence of a valued education 'women would not then marry for support' (Wollstonecraft, 1792, p.28) here she appears to suggest that women would instead marry for love and men would get a better deal in knowing their wife truly loved them when choosing to marrying them.

“...men endeavor to sink us still lower, merely to render us alluring objects for a moment; and women, intoxicated by the adoration which men, under the influence of their senses, pay them, do not seek to obtain a durable interest in their hearts, or to become the friends of the fellow creatures who find amusement in their society.” (Wollstonecraft, 1792, p.3).

Here, Mary Wollstonecraft explains how marriage, at that time was conducted on beauty and women's fascination with having their men finding them attractive. Despite this they held no place in their hearts, therefore, were not loved in the true sense of marriage.

During A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Wollstonecraft does not claim women's superiority to men. When she talks about women she says 'I do not wish them to have power over men;but over themselves'. (Wollstonecraft, 1792, p.34).Throughout the text Wollstonecraft is explaining the frustrations felt by women and asking for equality and the chance to be allowed to develop and explore their potential. Wollstonecraft argues that they are human beings, deserving of the same rights as men.

A copy of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman can be accessed via Project Gutenberg using the following link: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3420.                                        

http://www.collectgbstamps.co.uk/explore/issues/?issue=22439

Further insight into the position of women in society can be found in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper 'feminists believe this draws on the concept of the domestic sphere that women were held in during this time' (Thomas, 1997).

A copy of The Yellow Wallpaper can be accessed via Project Gutenberg using the following link - http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1952/1952-h/1952-h.htm

http://www.kentonlibrary.org/2013/the-yellow-wallpaper-digital-book-kit-by-charlotte-perkins-gilman

The Beginning of a Movement

http://thehpalliance.org/2012/08/

What can Women of today do? Well, what can't they do? They can drive, have an education, marry and divorce, control their number of offspring and they can VOTE. However this has not always been the case, as we reflect back through history this restriction on Women's rights was a platform for major historical events and movements.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century women were caught in a control system that limited their position within society. Women were governed by male figures, firstly their fathers and secondly their husbands 'men held all the resources and women had no independent means of subsistence' (Wojtczak, 2009). To not be married would be seen as distasteful and render women as undesirable as 'a woman who remained single would attract social disapproval and pity' (Wojtczak, 2009). Once married women forfeited all assets and control over their daily lives. Married women were entered into a never ending cycle of motherhood and nursing due to the lack of contraception 'every man had the right to force his wife into sex and childbirth' (Wojtczak, 2009). Prior to the Married Womens Property Act 1884 'a woman's personal property was transferred automatically to her husband on marriage' (Woodley, 2012).

Official education was not readily available with universities only occupied by men 'Girls received less education than boys, were barred from universities' (Wojtczak, 2009) the only work available to women were low skilled positions which meant that was no requirement for university attendance anyway.

In 1890, Florence Fenwick Miller (1854-1935), a midwife turned journalist, described woman's position during a speech to the National Liberal Club:

"Under exclusively man-made laws women have been reduced to the most abject condition of legal slavery in which it is possible for human beings to be held...under the arbitrary domination of another's will, and dependent for decent treatment exclusively on the goodness of heart of the individual master" (http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~awoodley/regency/legalwomen.html)

The middle class women in society were not required to hold down jobs due to their husband's wealth and position within society. Their motherhood and nursing duties were often taken over by a wet nurse leaving them redundant in this area also (Woodley, 2012).

These middle class women spent their days meeting other middle class women and one can only imagine the overriding sense of boredom that must have been present. Their frustration can be easily understood when you consider the lack of self- worth they must have felt. The working class women at least contributed to their households, the middle class women contributed nothing. The intellectual middle class women began to realise that upon marriage they were forfeiting their own assets and eventually the beginning of the movement began to stir....

Early Petitions.


http://herstoria.com/?p=535

1850's - the Ladies of Langham Place initiated a series of campaigns covering a variety of women's issues such as education, employment, marriage rights and suffrage. The ladies pictured opposite, Barbara Bodichon, Emily Davis and Bessie Rayner Parkes were three like minded friends who expressed their views in their periodical English Women's Journal 'the office of which was at 19 Langham Place, London W1 and is where the group found their name' (Herstoria,2012,p.535)

1856 - Barbara Bodichon formed the Women's Suffrage Committee with the aim of petitioning Parliament to establish a Married Women's Property Bill. Though her intention failed this gave birth to the Langham Place Movement.

1857 -  The Matrimonial Causes Act allowed a husband to divorce his wife if he could prove adultery, at this point the woman would also forfeit all legal rights over any children.


1866- Barbara Bodichon formed the Women's Suffrage Committee. The committee organised the Women's suffrage petition and obtained over 1500 signatures. This was then presented to the House of Commons by John Stuart Mill on the 7th June 1866.


John Stuart Mill raised the issue of women's suffrage in the House of Commons but was unsuccessful. From 1870 onwards bills in favour of women's suffrage were presented to parliament on an annual basis.


1882  - The Married Property Act meant a husband was no longer entitled to all his wives possessions and earnings.


1883 - The women's co-operative guild was established. This organisation supported women's suffrage and advocated maternity insurance benefit. They also organised education classes for women.


1897 - Regional societies came together to campaign peacefully for suffrage, known as the NUWSS. 
(see blog post National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies - NUWSS)


1903 - Frustration and slow progress for women's suffrage led to the formation of WSPU. 
(see blog post Women's Social and Political Union - WSPU)

As a woman myself it is hard to imagine the feelings that these women must had to deal with. Today we base our marriages on equality and respect, I cannot imagine entering into a marriage knowing the despair and lack of respect that I would be forced to accept, especially knowing the financial ruin and social exclusion on offer if I chose not to marry.



National Union of Women' Suffrage Societies (NUWSS)

From the mid 1800's, local and regional groups met to discuss womens voting issues, in '1897 a federation of seventeen societies came together to represent every active suffrage society in Britain' (Parliament,UK, 2014). They formed the National Union of Women Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) 'by 1913 nearly five hundred regional suffrage societies joined, making the NUWSS a most influential alliance' (Parliament.UK, 2014).

The societies that came together to form the NUWSS are listed in this document:

Inaugural NUWSS meeting minutes and Notice of formation of the NUWSS
http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/unesco/nuwss-foundation/

The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) was established by Millicent Fawcett in 1897 'this bought together 500 local organisations with over 50,000 members, many of them men' (Chandler, 2001, p.6). Members of the NUWSS hoped to persuade politicians sympathetic to their cause to give them the right to vote with a peaceful campaign, they petitioned peacefully, distributed leaflets and organised meetings. 
(Parliament, UK, 2014)

Between 1870 and 1884 debates on women's suffrage took place almost every year. This kept the issue in the public eye as 'all parliamentary proceedings were covered in the national and regional press'(Chandler, 2001, p.6).

http://www.biographyonline.net/politicians/uk/millicent-fawcett.html

Millicent Fawcett came from a wealthy family that 'supported higher education for women, and the successful warehouse business meant they could afford a good education' (Hanlon, 2010). Millicent's sister Elizabeth Garrett Anderson became the first Englishwoman to qualify as a doctor (BBC, 2014). Millicent Fawcett was married to MP Henry Fawcett , 'Millicent was a regular in the ladies gallery observing her husband' (Crawford,2003,p.214) she was, therefore, familiar with political procedures.
The NUWSS adopted the colours of Green, White and Red as shown in this pin badge, women wore this badge to show unity and pledge support for their campaign. It is reported that 'Mrs. Fawcett gave to each guest a badge in red, white, and green bearing the name of the society to which the wearer belonged' (NUWSS,1909,p.707).

NUWSS Pin Badge
http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/parliamentary-collections/collections-19thc-and-suffragists/nuwss-badge/

http://www.thesuffragettes.org/history/key-events/

Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)

The campaign for Women's Suffrage was a long and tireless campaign, from the formation of NUWSS in 1897 the battle lasted many decades. Emmeline Pankhurst, who had been a member of the Manchester suffragist group 'had grown impatient with the middle class, respectable, gradualist tactics of the NUWSS' (BBC, 2014). This left many other women angry and in 1903 the Women's Social and Political Union was founded by 'Emmeline Pankhurst and her eldest daughter Christabel' (Joannou & Purvis, 1998, p.45) she was later joined by her other daughters Sylvia and Adela. WSPU members became known as the Suffragettes, they had their 'own magazine The Suffragette, which aimed to get letters and articles published in national newspapers' (Kidd & Rees, 2003, p.45).

http://www.biographyonline.net/politicians/uk/emily-pankhurst.html

They fought a more militant fight with radical action adopting the motto 'deeds not words' they resorted to violent actions 'they annoyed public speakers at political meetings, set fire to pillar boxes and chained themselves to railings' (Kidd & Rees, 2003, p.46) to raise awareness for their cause.

Emmeline Pankhurst defended the militant tactics of WSPU on the grounds that 'the condition of our sex is so deplorable that it is our duty to break the law in order to call attention' (Holton & Purvis, 2002, p.120).

In contrast to the NUWSS fight to secure the vote and to improve the rights of married women the WSPU were solely concerned with obtaining the Vote. Whilst excluding the other aims of NUWSS they also excluded some members by making the WSPU only open to women with the exclusion of men entirely with Christabel Pankhurst stating 'we are absolutely independent...of all mens parties and movements' (Winslow, 2013, p.65).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/9662627/A-room-of-her-own-The-battle-for-the-Womens-Library.html

Key Dates - WSPU

1903 - Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) formed in Manchester by Emmeline Pankhurst.

1905 - Militant campaign begins. Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney are arrested and imprisoned. Deeds not Words and Votes for Women are adopted as campaign slogans.

1906 - WSPU moves to London. Liberal government returned by a landslide.

1907 - Women’s Freedom League (WFL) is formed, led by Charlotte Despard, breaking away from WSPU, in response to domination of the movement by the Pankhursts as leaders, in favour of democratic and constitutional organisation and to address wider agenda of women’s issues.

1908 - Asquith becomes Prime Minister, following resignation of Campbell-Bannerman.

1909 - First hunger strikes by suffragettes. Forcible feeding introduced

1910 - Liberals return to power with reduced majority, Black Friday occurs this year also.

1911 - April: No Vote No Census protest, Record-breaking Coronation procession

1912 - Mass widow-smashing campaign. Labour Party supports women’s suffrage in alliance with NUWSS.

1913 - Speaker’s ruling wrecks hopes of amendment to include women in Reform Bill. Militant bomb and arson campaigns             express widespread fury.

          April: Cat and Mouse Act introduced – women can be temporarily released because of ill-health and then immediately           re-arrested.

          WSPU offices raided.

         June: Emily Wilding Davis dies from injuries received on Derby Day under the hoofs of the King’s horse. Huge funeral             procession held in London. Emmeline Pankhurst is arrested and goes on hunger and thirst strike.

1914 - Violent action continues.

         Sylvia Pankhurst’s East London Federation forced to split from WSPU because of focus on working women and her               socialist links and sympathies.

          4^th August – War is declared. Suffrage prisoners are released

          Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst cease campaigning, support recruitment of soldiers and urge women to join the             war effort.

http://www.thesuffragettes.org/history/key-events/

In 1907 the Women's Social and Political Union itself split into two groups 'after Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel came into conflict with other members (Charlotte Despard and Teresa Billington-Greig) of WSPU' (Crawford, 2003, p.536).Those who left formed the Women's Freedom League (WFL). WFL was also a militant organization which attacked the government, however they criticized the 'WSPU’s campaign of vandalism against private and commercial property' (Holton & Purvis, 2002, p.128). This caused the Pankhursts and their supporters to establish an even tighter grip on the workings of the WSPU (BBC, 2014).

In 1908 WSPU adopted the colours green, white and lilac that symbolised hope, purity and dignity respectively. The acronym of Green, White, Violet was 'rumored to stand as a secret message meaning Give Women Votes' (Atkinson, 2010, p.113).

http://www.edwardianemporium.co.uk/badges/

WSPU Vs NUWSS

Throughout the 19th Century there was a 'gradual overall improvement detectable in women's rights' (Dench,1998, p.220).The movement campaigned for many rights for women centered around issues such as marriage and education. Many women, however, felt the issue of gaining the right to vote was the main aim of the campaign. The movement to gain votes for women had two wings, the suffragists (NUWSS) and the suffragettes (WSPU), (BBC, 2014). The suffragists had their origins in the mid nineteenth century, while the suffragettes came into being in 1903 (BBC, 2014).


The NUWSS was formed in 1897 by Millicent Fawcett.

The group was made up 

Millicent Fawcett addressing a rally

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/britain/votesforwomenrev_print.shtml#top

of mainly middle-class women and 'campaigned peacefully through petitions,pamphlets and posters' (Dixon, 2002, p.74).The organisation built up supporters in Parliament, but private members' bills to give women the vote all failed. Whilst the NUWSS gained respect they lacked progress which led to some individuals breaking off and demanding a more drastic approach and the WSPU was formed by Emmeline Pankhurst with their members known as the Suffragettes (Kidd & Rees, 2003, p.72).

WSPU shop in Reading which opened in the summer of 1910
http://www.chrisgeorgecards.com/node/100

The WSPU was formed in 1903 and led by Emmeline Pankhurst, a militant organisation with the motto 'deeds not words' they fought a more aggressive fight, they smashed windows, heckled speakers and were arrested and spent time in prison after refusing to pay the fines (Kidd & Rees, 2003, p.46).



The Suffragettes were looked upon with distaste with some arguing that the militant action overshadowed and detracted attention from the main objective - universal suffrage. Arthur Conan Doyle condemned their actions as 'malicious monkey trick' and stated 'there was only one thing to add to their mean actions, and that was to blow up a blind man and his dog' (Wilson, 1998, p.118).

Comparison of NUWSS & WSPU

You can see from the table above that NUWSS and WSPU were two very separate groups, However, they were in danger of being judged in the same manner. The militant tactics of WSPU arguably hindered the NUWSS campaign as it made Parliament more reluctant to give women the vote The Morning Post newspaper evidenced this in 1912 'nothing could indicate more plainly their lack of fitness to be entrusted with the exercise of political power' (Ellis, 2014, p.89). Arguably though, the militancy of the Suffragettes did bring attention back to the issue of womens suffrage that had become all but motionless in society. Millicent Fawcett herself recognised this as she said 'they have done more during the last 12 months than we have been able to accomplish in the last 12 years' (Ellis, 2014, p.89).

Political Alliances of WSPU and NUWSS

In the mid-19th Century when the suffrage movement began British politics 'was dominated by the Whigs and Tories' (Parliament.UK, 2014) These were not political parties like they are today they were loose alliances of interests and individuals. By the mid 19th century the Tories had evolved into the Conservative Party, and the Whigs had evolved into the Liberal Party (Kelley, 2013, p.187-192). In the late 19th century the Liberal Party began to pursue more left wing policies and moved closer to the Conservatives on many of the key issues of the time (Kelley, 2013, p.187-192). 

http://britishstudies.pbworks.com/w/page/15133677/Georgian%20era%20II

leaders of the Whigs and Tories in the House of Commons,
Charles Fox and William Pitt.

The Liberal and Conservatives dominated politics until the 1920's when it declined in popularity and Britain saw the rise of a new Labour Party (Kelley, 2013, p.187-192).The Womens suffrage campaign did not have complete support from any of the three political parties. There was concern over the impact of women's suffrage on the political system and hesitance due to the militant suffragette actions. This made it difficult for any of the parties to support women's suffrage unconditionally (Kelley, 2013, p.187-192).

NUWSS

The NUWSS claimed to be 'non-political party, although many suffragists had links with the Liberal Party or were sympathetic to Liberal aims' (Bartley, 2007, p.43). The NUWSS were mainly middle class as members were often 'the wives, mothers or daughters of prominent Liberal politicians' (Bartley, 2007, p.44). The NUWSS were not officially allied with any party, but 'would campaign in support of individual election candidates who supported votes for women' (Smith, 2014, p.67). From 1903 'labour was tied into an alliance with the Liberals and its leadership was divided on the issue of female emancipation' (Roberts, 2001, p.64). By 1906, many 'MP's had been won over to the general principle of votes for women by the NUWSS and their peaceful campaign' (Simmonds,2013, p.285). Millicent Fawcett, although Liberal herself, was becoming infuriated with the Liberals' delaying tactics and her response was to help Labour candidates against Liberal ones at election time (Roberts, 2001, p.64).The NUWSS, by allying itself with Labour, attempted to put pressure on the Liberals, because the Liberals' political future depended on Labour staying weak (Simmonds,2013, p.285).


WSPU

Members of WSPU 'opposed Liberal candidates and were critical of the Labour Party' (Holton & Purvis, 2002, p.233). Despite their opposition the hopes of WSPU were raised in 1906, when Asquith’s Liberal Party came to power as it was thought they would be the most sympathetic to their cause (Vellacott, 1993, p.63). However, after losing faith with the Liberal government WSPU changed their tactics as they focused on attacking whichever political party was in power 'they refused to support any legislation that would not aid their campaign of enfranchisement for women' (Simmonds,2013, p.285). From 1907, WSPU became middle class in character and Mrs Pankhurst in particular 'moved towards the right gradually disassociating herself from the Labour party' (Holton & Purvis, 2002, p.233). It now appeared that her aim was limited suffrage for women; she had deserted working class women (Holton & Purvis, 2002, p.234). The Pankhurst's actions of 'attacking Labour and Liberal candidates equally at by-elections' (Trueman, 2000) left some members of WSPU feeling uneasy, notably Charlotte Despard and Teresa Billington-Greig. This led to the formation of the Womens Freedom League (WFL) in October 1907 when 'Teresa Billington-Greig and some supporters left the WSPU amid accusations of undemocratic practices' (Cowman, 2004, p.98). The WFL did still support the need for militant action 'but sought a less autocratic support of political activity' (Cowman, 2004, p.98).

National League for Opposing Women's Suffrage.

From the formation of NUWSS in 1897, The Suffrage movement occupied a steady, non threatening stance in society. However, the 'Suffrage movement picked up sufficient pace' (Crawford, 2003, p.120) after the formation of the WSPU in 1903. This new militant phase of the suffrage campaign led to a 'similar invigoration of anti suffrage movement' (Crawford, 2003, p.120).The opposition to womens suffrage was well organised 'In 1908 the Womens National Anti-Suffrage League was formed as was the Mens Committee for Opposing Female Suffrage' (Nelson, 2004, p.3). These two groups later merged in 1910 to become the National League for Opposing Women's Suffrage. The most famous female member opposed to womens suffrage was the novelist Mrs. Mary Humphrey Ward (1851-1920). In June 1889 an ‘Appeal Against Women’s Suffrage’ was published in the monthly review The Nineteenth Century  which was 'organised by Mary Ward...signed by 104 women, many of whom members of the British aristocracy' (Tuson, 2003, p.4).

Liberal.

The Liberal party was in power during the period of WSPU militancy, from late 1905 to 1914. Early suffragists believed the Liberal Party would be the most sympathetic to their cause 'they believed that the Liberal Party, by the very nature of liberalism, would push forward political reform' (Vellacott, 1993, p.63). Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (prime minister,1905-8) sympathised with the suffragettes and said they had 'made a conclusive and irrefutable case' but merely advised them to ‘keep pestering’ and offered no practical support (Fawcett, 2011, p.14). Bannerman's successor, Henry Asquith, was against women having the vote. He held the belief 'that if women were enfranchised on a property qualification, it would give the vote to many upper class women who would vote Conservative' (Fawcett, 2011, p.14).

Labour.

During this period, the Labour Party was in its infancy and its main priority was to secure the vote for working class men (Eustance et al.,2000,p.128) Women’s suffrage was, therefore, a secondary issue (Vellacott, 1993, p.63). However, the Labour party appealed to NUWSS as 'it had a stronger record of support for womens suffrage than any other party' (Smith, 2014, p.66). In 1912 the Labour Party announced it ‘could find no government bill acceptable that does not include women’(Lang, 2005, p.140). Female suffrage became official Labour party policy, so long as the vote was extended to all men at the same time (Smith, 2014, p.66).

Conservative.

Most Conservative MP's were against women having the vote. There was a fear among the Tory opposition that adult suffrage would be granted, thus giving the vote to working class men and women (Holton & Purvis, 2002, p.233). They felt this would 'upset the balance of the electorate and work against them' (Smith, 2014, p.66).

Conciliation Bills.

There were three Conciliation Bills put before the House of Commons, one per year in 1910, 1911 and 1912, all concerned with granting women votes.

A WSPU rally in Hyde Park in support of the Conciliation Bill, 23 July 1910http://blog.museumoflondon.org.uk/walthamstows-wonderful-women-interview-stella-creasy/.

The 1910 Conciliation Bill.

This bill would have 'extended the franchise to wealthy, property owning women in Britain and Ireland' (Housego & Storey, 2012, p.33) this bill would have enfranchised about one million women. Initially the bill did have support from the Liberal government, but did not get the necessary backing. This was believed to be because 'the Liberal and Conservative MP's feared the negative impact on their parties during general elections' (Housego & Storey, 2012, p.33). The bill failed and what happened after this became known as 'Black Friday' (See blog post Black Friday).


The 1911 Conciliation Bill.

On 7 November 1911 Asquith re-introduced the Conciliation Bill but it failed again. However, 'Prime Minister Asquith changed his position relating to womens suffrage' (Housego & Storey, 2012, p.35). Asquith promised to introduce a bill for male suffrage in the next session, with a promise that this could then be amended to allow some women the vote. Some women were hopeful as 'a number of ministers were speaking openly in favour of votes for women' (Housego & Storey, 2012, p.35). This debate was delayed until march, some militant suffragettes lost faith and responded with the 'war on windows' (Housego & Storey, 2012, p.36).

The 1912 Conciliation Bill.

The third attempt to pass 'the bill was defeated by 208 to 222' (Smith, 2014, p.54). The suffragettes felt let down as 'a number of ministers had reneged on promises of support when it came to the vote' (Housego & Storey, 2012, p.36). This was the final straw and the suffragettes escalated their militant action. Emmeline Pankhurst was imprisoned for her part in the 'war on windows' and Christabel Pankhurst became a wanted woman, she had already fled to France to escape further imprisonment under the Cat and Mouse Act. Command of WSPU 'was taken by the loyal Annie Kenney' (Housego & Storey, 2012, p.37).

Why did the Conciliation Bills fail?

The campaign for women’s suffrage got caught up in politics, some MP's opposed the Conciliation Bills because they did not want any women to get the vote (Holton, 2002, p.176) Some pro-suffrage MP's opposed the Bills because they were too narrow. Many Liberals opposed the Bills because they believed 'they would add hundreds and thousands of Tory voters to the electorate' (Smith, 2014, p.63). After 1910, the government was faced by other crises, especially trouble in Ireland (Housego & Storey, 2012, p.42) and many MP's thought there were more important things to worry about. Many Irish MP's, there were 100 of them, voted against the Bills because they wanted more time for the Irish Question (Smith, 2014, p.54).

Hunger Strikes and The Cat and Mouse Act

Hunger Strikes.

The first arrests occurred in 1905 when Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney interrupted a political meeting in Manchester to ask two Liberal politicians (Winston Churchill and Sir Edward Grey) 'if they believed women should have the right to vote, neither man replied' (Bartley, 2012, p.99). As a result, the two women got out a banner which had on it "Votes for Women" and shouted at the two politicians to answer their questions. Pankhurst and Kenney were thrown out of the meeting and arrested for causing an obstruction and a technical assault on a police officer (Beechener, 2004, p.73).

These suffragettes decided to go on hunger strike in response to not being granted political prisoner status (Bartley, 2012, p.101). The government did not want the suffragettes to die in prison 'they were afraid this would increase public support for the cause of votes for women' (Kidd & Rees, 2003, p.73). To ensure this did not happen the procedure of force feeding was adopted. 

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/99402708/



Marion Wallace Dunlop (1864-1942) was arrested on the 5th July 1909 for militancy, she decided to go on hunger strike as she felt she was not treated as a first division political prisoner. Marion Wallace Dunlop lasted 91 hours before she was released due to ill health. It was reported that Marion Wallace Dunlop was working entirely under her own initiative, however after this, hunger strikes became 'standard WSPU practice by 1910' (Chapman, 2013, p.153)

Suffragettes that experienced this procedure were keen to voice the process, Suffragette Mary Leigh was sentenced to a term in custody at Winson Green Prison. In protest at her treatment she broke her cell window. This resulted in Mary being moved to the punishment cell in the prison. She immediately went on hunger strike and later detailed her account:

“I was then surrounded and forced back onto the chair, which was tilted backward. There were about ten persons around me. The doctor then forced my mouth so as to form a pouch, and held me while one of the wardresses poured some liquid from a spoon; it was milk and brandy. After giving me what he thought was sufficient, he sprinkled me with eau de cologne, and wardresses then escorted me to another cell on the first floor. The wardresses forced me onto a bed (in the cell) and two doctors came in with them. While I was held down a nasal tube was inserted. It was two yards long, with a funnel at the end; there was a glass junction in the middle to see if the liquid was passing. The end was put up left and right nostrils on alternate days. Great pain was experienced during the process, both mental and physical. One doctor inserted the end up my nostril while I was held down by the wardresses, during which process they must have seen my pain, for the other doctor interfered (the matron and two other wardresses were in tears) and they stopped and resorted to feeding me by spoon. More eau de cologne was used"(Trueman, 2013). http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/force_feeding_suffragettes.htm

Force feeding and the publicity became embarrassing for the government, well know journalists H.N. Brailsford and Henry Nevinson resigned from their jobs at The Times newspaper reporting on the 5th October 1909 that they 'cannot denounce torture in Russia and support it in England' (Chapman, 2013, p.153).

WSPU Hunger Strike Medal

Hunger Strike Medals

These medals were introduced by WSPU in 1909 (Crawford, 2003,p.306). They were given to suffragettes as recognition for their hunger strikes once they had been released from prison 'a new bar was added showing the date of arrest for each prison stay' (Crawford, 2003,p.307).

Looking at this hunger strike medal, I cannot help but liken it to a war medal. They look very similar and they appear to be added to like a war medal, for each hunger strike a new bar is added, for each war effort a man would receive a new stripe. This makes me think about how suffragettes would have worn these badges as their badge of honour, proving their commitment to their cause.



 The Cat and Mouse Act.

http://catandmouse.org.uk/stories.htm

Many suffragettes exploited the act of force feeding to discredit the government and gain sympathy to their cause.

To counteract this negativity 'the home office rushed through a raft of special measures' (Housego & Storey, 2013, p. 39) known as the Prisoners (Temporary Discharge of Ill Health) Act 1913.

This act permitted the release of weak prisoners on hunger strike until they had recovered enough to be re-imprisoned to finish the rest of their sentence. This ongoing cycle of capture and release was dubbed by the suffragettes as 'The Cat and Mouse Act' due to its likeness of the children's game defined as ' the act of toying with or tormenting something before destroying it' (Merriam-Webster, 2013).

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145941&page=2

Thinking about the treatment that these women received is truly shocking and leaves me feeling quite uneasy. It shows how committed to the cause and how strongly they must have felt as most of these women endured this experience on several occasions. In today's 21st Century it simply would not happen, even the most dangerous prisoners convicted of the most unthinkable crimes have their basic human rights protected and would not be subjected to such an ordeal.

Black Friday

Friday 18th November 1910

Christabel Pankhurst had previously warned WSPU followers that militancy would be resumed should the 1910 Conciliation Bill fail. On the 14th November 1910 her despair was evident when she addressed a mass meeting stating 'the truce had taught the suffragettes the absolute necessity of militancy' concluding that it was 'no time for rosewater and kid-glove methods' (Van Wingerden, 1999, p.123).

On the 18th November 1910, later to become known as 'Black Friday', approximately 300 women 'proceeded to the House of Commons in detachments, and, at intervals, rushed the house' (Van Wingerden, 1999, p.123). It was the first suffragette protest that was met with police violence and over 200 were arrested and many mishandled. (Conner, 2010).

Scenes of violence from Black Friday.

(http://www.hastingspress.co.uk/history/elsie.htm, http://www.sharonpavey.org/black-friday/, http://www.hastingspress.co.uk/history/sufpix.htm)

The very next day, on Saturday 19th November 1910, the following article was published in The Times newspaper:

"The suffrage extremists resumed their “militant” policy yesterday with a continuous series of attempts to force a way to the House of Commons in support of a deputation which they knew would not be received.Several of the police had their helmets knocked off in carrying out their duty, one was disabled by a kick on the ankle, one was cut on the face by a belt,and one had his hand cut. As a rule they kept their tempers very well, but their method of shoving back the raiders lacked nothing in vigour. They were at any rate kept warm by the exercise, and so were the ladies who flung themselves against the defending lines” (The Times, 19th November 2010).

The violent scenes of Black Friday led the government condemning the day as a 'PR disaster' with many suffragettes keen to tell their story. Suffragette Ada Cecil Wright remembers her experience of Black Friday;

"Orders had been given at the W.S.P.U headquarters that there was
to be no retreat. It was a terrible day, and we were battered by the 
Police all day long. The Police rode at us with their horses, so I 
caught hold of the reigns of one of their horses, and would not let go. 
A policeman caught hold of my arm, and twisted it round and round
until I felt the bone almost breaking,I sank to the pavement helpless"   

(Van Wingerden, 1999, p.124). 

Due to the embarrassing aftermath 'Asquith was forced to promise a Suffrage Bill in his next election campaign' (Conner, 2010).