The Main Events 1906-1914

Question 1

In 1906 who was the PM and what was his stance on votes for women?

Answer 1

Henry Campbell-Bannerman, he supported votes for women, but ministers were divided

Question 2

In October 1906, what were the NUWSS doing?

Answer 2

Continuing campaign of petitions and meetings

Question 3

In October 1906, what were the WPSU doing ?

Answer 3

Member protest outside Houses of Parliament. They were arrested and sent to prison. WSPU start campaign of noisily opposing MPs at by-elections

Question 4

What did the NUWSS do in February 1907?

Answer 4

Organised a procession in London. Over 3000 women march. Called ‘mud march’ because of bad weather

Question 5

Who became PM in 1908 and what did he tell the women?

Answer 5

Herbert Asquith. He was against votes for women and told them to prove there is popular support for the idea

Question 6

What did both suffragettes and suffragists do in June 1908?

Answer 6

Organised massive processions in London with supporters coming from all over the country

Question 7

What did Asquith do about this?

Answer 7

He did nothing. He said women would be poor voters

Question 8

What did the suffragettes do in frustration about this?

Answer 8

They started smashing windows in Downing Street and chaining themselves to railings. Lessemouth golf course was attacked by 2 women

Question 9

Why was Asquith against votes for women at this time?

Answer 9

Because they kept attacking him

Question 10

What was happening to the size of both the NUWSS and WSPU?

Answer 10

They were both increasing

Question 11

When did the split between the NUWSS and WSPU start?

Answer 11

Late 1908

Question 12

What were the suffragists worried about in late 1908?

Answer 12

The suffragettes activities’ are making the Government hostile to votes for women

Question 13

In 1909 what happened to WSPU members?

Answer 13

More members sent to prison. Demanded to be treated as political prisoner and went on hunger strikes. Government starts force feeding them.

Question 14

Why did the government start force feeding women?

Answer 14

Because they didn’t want dead women on their hands

Question 15

When was the peak time of violence?

Answer 15

Late 1908 + 1909

Question 16

Why did the WSPU call of their violent protests in 1910 ?

Answer 16

Asquith agreed to work with them and NUWSS to produce a conciliation bill giving women the vote

Question 17

Why did WSPU start protesting again?

Answer 17

Although initially the conciliation bill went down in House of Commons, Asquith began to stall

Question 18

What was ‘Black Friday?’

Answer 18

A fight with police resulting in many women being physically and sexually assaulted by officers

Question 19

How many women were arrested and how many died?

Answer 19

115 arrested and 2 died as a result of their injuries

Question 20

When and why did WSPU call a truce ?

Answer 20

1911, in the hope that the conciliation will be passed

Question 21

In 1911, What did the government do with the conciliation bill and what did they introduce?

Answer 21

The government stalled again and announced they were dropping the bill. They introduced the new reform bill to give votes to more men

Question 22

How did the WSPU react to the conciliation bill being dropped ?

Answer 22

They were furious and re-started their campaign of violence

Question 23

When did WSPU begin the campaign of window smashing ?

Answer 23

1912

Question 24

In 1912, what happened to WPSU headquarters?

Answer 24

They were raided and some of its leaders arrested

Question 25

Where did Christabel Pankhurst flee to?

Answer 25

Paris

Question 26

What did the NUWSS do in 1913 to try and win over public opinion?

Answer 26

In the women’s pilgrimage, women walk to London from all over Britain, raising 1000s of £ on the way

Question 27

In 1914 what was the public opinion towards the suffragettes ?

Answer 27

It was firmly against them

Question 28

Where were women banned from?

Answer 28

Art galleries and museums

Question 29

When did the government release all WSPU prisoners?

Answer 29

At the start of WW1

Question 30

Why were women unlikely to get the vote at the start of WW1?

Answer 30

The government couldn’t back down to violence. The war gave them an excuse to give them the vote