Britain- D4- The Women's Social and Political Union, 1903-1914 Flashcards
(107 cards)
1
Q
What does NUWSS stand for and when was it founded?
A
National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, founded in 1897.
2
Q
Who led the NUWSS and what did it campaign for?
A
Led by Millicent Fawcett, campaigned peacefully for women’s suffrage.
3
Q
What does WSPU stand for and when was it formed?
A
Women’s Social and Political Union, formed in 1903.
4
Q
How was the WSPU different from the NUWSS? (2 main differences)
A
WSPU- only women, militant tactics, deeds not words.
NUWSS- men allowed to join, peaceful.
5
Q
Who was the WSPU established by?
A
Emmeline Pankhurst
6
Q
What did Christabel Pankhurst decide in 1905?
A
To adopt moderately militant tactics like meeting disruptions, demonstrations and heckling.
7
Q
How was the militancy campaign initiated?
A
Christabel disrupted a speech by Sir Edward Grey at a public meeting, she and fellow WSPU member Annie Kenney were imprisoned for this act.
8
Q
What did the WSPU’s militancy campaign draw inspiration from?
A
The Irish Home Rule movement, which had been successful in gaining the movement political influence.
9
Q
How did the WSPU want the government to react to them?
A
Wanted to shock and enrage them. Wanted the WSPU to be hated, even feared, and force the state into harsh acts that would ultimately increase public support for women’s suffrage.
10
Q
When did a WSPU group break into the lobby of the HOC and what were they doing? How many were arrested and what was the impact of this? (Name one of the arrested women)
A
25th October 1906. They waved flags and made speeches. 10 were arrested, 9 of whom were MC/UC women. The arrest of respectable women caused public outrage. E.g. Mrs Cobden Sanderson, daughter of renowned reform politician Richard Cobden.
11
Q
What was a valuable propaganda weapon for the WSPU?
A
Use of martyrs through imprisonment, the building of public sympathy and showing gov and brutal and reactionary.
12
Q
What became a fruitful way of raising funds and support?
A
Breakfast meetings to celebrate the release of women from prison.
13
Q
When did the WSPU hold the first ‘Women’s Parliament’, where and what happened? How many women went to court?
A
In February 1907. First ‘Women’s Parliament’ held at Caxton Hall, Westminster. Participants then marched on to parliament only to be attacked by police. 38 women went to court, most were sent to a few weeks in Holloway prison, including Sylvia and Christabel Pankhurst.
14
Q
How did militant WSPU acts help the NUWSS?
A
The publicity won for the women’s suffrage movement increased NUWSS membership.
15
Q
When and what was the ‘Mud March’? Who organised it and how many supporters were involved?
A
In 1907 the NUWSS organised a peaceful protest of 3,000 supporters.
16
Q
When had the failure of peaceful tactics become apparent to the WSPU?
A
After the 1908 Hyde Park meeting.
17
Q
When was the Hyde Park meeting and why did it happen?
A
- It was in response to Asquith saying he refused to consider the question of female suffrage unless there was a clear demonstration that there was sufficient demand in the country.
18
Q
How many women were at the Hyde Park meeting?
A
between 250,000 and 500,000
19
Q
What was Asquith’s response after the Hyde Park meeting?
A
Despite the huge gathering, PM Asquith refused to acknowledge popular calls for suffrage.
20
Q
When marked the beginning of the WSPU’s violent militancy?
A
Autumn of 1908.
21
Q
How long was Christabel sent to prison for window breaking and when?
A
- 2 months.
22
Q
Where was Asquith assaulted?
A
On a golf course.
23
Q
What is an example of WSPU window breaking in late 1900s.
A
June 1909. The WSPU organised a march on parliament, during which the windows of the Home Office, Treasury and Privy Council were smashed.
24
Q
When did the government introduce force feedings and why?
A
Introduced 1909 in response to prisoner’s hunger strikes.
25
What legislation did the gov hope would resolve the problem of hunger strikes? When was it passed and what did it do?
1913, Cat and Mouse Act. Women on hunger strike who became ill were to be released until healthy enough for rearrest.
26
What was one of the most notorious acts of militancy in November of which year?
November 1910. When gov refused time to debate women's suffrage legislation the WSPU sent 300 women into HoC, in what became known as 'Black Friday'.
27
What was the police's response to Black Friday?
They clashed with the group, being deliberately rough, assaulting many women, sometimes sexually, leaving several serious injuries. This was the police's attempt to teach the women a lesson.
28
What were the differing reactions from Christabel and Emmeline Pankhurst following 'Black Friday'?
Christabel declared an all-out sex war against men.
Emmeline felt the enemy was not men, but specifically the Liberal Party.
29
How did 'Black Friday' change WSPU tactics?
Afterwards, the WSPU tried to avoid street protests, favouring acts of property destruction.
30
When did the WSPU begin to target artwork and set fire to pillar boxes (while continuing window smashing)?
1912
31
In 1913, as part of the campaign of greater intimidation directed by the WSPU, give an example of artwork being targetted.
In 1913, in Manchester Art Gallery 13 paintings were hacked apart,
32
Why was Millicent Fawcett and the NUWSS particularly disappointed by WSPU militancy?
Part of their case for women's votes was that women were morally superior to men, but the WSPU violence undermined this idea completely.
33
What was a women's anti vote organisation and when was it set up and by who?
in 1908, Mrs Humphry Ward established the Women's National Anti-Suffrage League for women who did not want the vote.
34
What men's anti women's suffrage organisation was set up? When and by who?
In 1909, Lords Curzon and Cromer formed the Men's League for Opposing Women's Suffrage.
35
When did the Women's National Anti-Suffrage League and the Men's League for Opposing Women's Suffrage unite? What was the name of the new organisation these combined organisations formed?
United in 1910 to form the National League for Opposing Women's Suffrage?
36
How many branches did the National League for Opposing Women's Suffrage have nationwide?
97
37
Example of loss of support within the WSPU due to violence/militancy?
Ex-WSPU member Teresa Billington-Greig believed the violence was dishonest as had been engineered by the Pankhurst's to win publicity.
38
Evidence of a boom in membership for the WSPU from 1906 to 1911? (branches)
In 1906 it had 3 branches, by 1911 it had 122.
39
What was the name of the WSPU's journal/newspaper?
'Votes for Women'
40
What was the circulation of 'Votes for Women' by 1910?
over 40,000
41
When did Annie Kenney join WSPU leadership and why was this significant?
Joined leadership in 1905. Significant as she was the poverty-stricken daughter of a textile worker and added a much needed WC element to WSPU leadership.
42
Who joined the WSPU, adding much financial and organisational skill and when? What else did the couple encourage?
1906, Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence and her husband Frederick. The couple also encouraged the use of pageantry, music and drama to popularise the cause.
43
What did Emmeline Pethick Lawrence do?
Became treasuerer, working diligently to ensure the WSPU was well funded. Also designed suffrage clothing in white (purity), green (hope) and purple (dignity).
44
What did Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence's husband, Frederick, do?
Organised WSPU staff and established it's newspaper 'Votes for Women'.
45
What was Annie Kenney's role in leadership?
Paid organiser
46
What did Sylvia Pankhurst observe that caused some tension within the WSPU?
National leaders of the WSPU in London usually ignored the regional branches
47
Example of tension between London WSPU and its provincial organisations?
The Liverpool branch of the WSPU, founded in 1906, was largely WC. Unlike the MC/UC London branches that held drawing-room meetings, Liverpool preferred open-air gatherings, which appealed more to WC women. When the central WSPU ordered them to switch to drawing-room meetings, they refused.
48
What was the composition of the WSPU like at first?
mainly northern WC women with connections with the ILP.
49
When did Christabel sever the WSPU's alliance with the ILP, where did they move, and why?
Alliance severed in 1906 and WSPU base moved from Manchester to London. Due to disillusionment with ILP in terms of its seriousness about women's suffrage and also to secure popular support for the movement outside of Manchester.
50
What did the geographical move and political adjustment of the WSPU in 1906 lead to? Why?
Without its socialist connotations, wealthy women were encouraged to join. Able to recruit more from the social elite, good for finances, and shifted away from labour.
51
By 1907 how much was the WSPU able to raise?
£20,000
52
What happened to Adela Pankhurst and why?
She failed to conceal her socialist views from Conservative supporters within the WSPU, causing much offence. So Emmeline persuaded her to emigrate to Australia to avoid further embarrassment.
53
What did the Pankhursts emphasise was the uniting factor despite the class divide in the WSPU?
Gender
54
What did some think the women's movement should aim for instead of universal suffrage, which would be hard to achieve? Why is this not fair?
Limited property-based suffrage, which wouldn't benefit WC women.
55
Why did WC men oppose women's suffrage and the WSPU even before the WSPU's split from Labour? (3)
Feared women would vote Conservative or Liberal.
Feared their admission into the workplace would drive down wages.
Saw the Pankhursts as overly dramatic and privileged.
56
What notable exception was there to Labours general opposition to the WSPU?
Labour leader Kier Hardie, who was a personal friend of the Pankhursts before 1906.
57
What had the Labour Party done by 1907?
Labour Party conference rejected women's suffrage, preferring instead to link female suffrage to the campaign for extended male suffrage.
58
Why can too much credit not be given to the WSPU over the NUWSS in increasing support for the women's suffrage movement?
The NUWSS noticed an increase in popularity before the WSPU's formation.
Also it was the NUWSS that made sure the 1906 Liberal government included a majority of members who would react sympathetically to women's suffrage campaigning.
59
How did the NUWSS influence the 1906 Liberal government? (2)
Pressed the question of women's suffrage to all parliamentary candidates.
Worked hard to ensure local political associations only selected candidates pledged to women's votes.
60
Due to the NUWSS political work, how many MPs in the HoC were committed to female suffrage in 1906?
415.
61
Evidence of growth in NUWSS in 1900s?
Increased from 17 branches in 1902 to 31 branches in 1906.
62
Difference between achievements of WSPU and NUWSS?
WSPU won the cause much needed publicity where the NUWSS put in the political leg work to make female suffrage a realistic proposition.
63
Example of 3 other organisations that were using militant acts in the 1900s?
Women's Freedom League
The Men's Political Union
The East London Federation of Suffragettes
64
Why did the WSPU differ from other organisations using militancy?
Its scale and organisation is what made it so important in the campaign for female suffrage.
65
Emmeline was an influential speaker. What argument did she make for women's suffrage that found sympathy among female audiences?
Argued women had a unique POV that required political representation.
66
What did Christabel see which encouraged her to take militant action in 1905? Include specific example
Noticed the impact on the gov of disturbances over unemployment.
E.g. After a 1905 meeting by unemployed men ended in a police-dispersed riot, the gov reintroduced and passed a previously abandoned unemployment bill.
67
Who's house did Christabel inspire the burning of?
Anti-suffrage cabinet minister Lewis Harcourt's house.
68
Why did Christabel direct acts of arson towards churches?
Believed the Church of England upheld existing political prejudices against women.
69
Statistic on the targeting of churches.
Between 1913 and 1914, around 50 churches were attacked.
70
How did Emmeline and Christabel run the WSPU?
Like an army, uncompromisingly.
71
What did Christabel and Emmeline's autocratic leadership style lead to? Include specific example.
Caused several splits. E.g. In 1907, disillusioned with the WSPU's undemocratic nature, Charlotte Despard and Teresa Billington-Greig formed the Women's Freedom League, taking a fifth of its members to build a more working-class, pro-labour movement.
72
How many splits were there in the WSPU?
7
73
What happened to the Pethick-Lawrences in 1912?
Quarrelled with Emmeline and Christabel over the recent escalation of violence. Emmeline persuaded them too take a break in Canada, only to find on their return that they had been banned from the WSPU altogether.
74
Evidence of Sylvia Pankhursts dedication to the WSPU?
In 1906 she abandoned her studies at the Royal College of Arts to devote herself completely to working for the WSPU as its secretary.
75
What did Sylvia Pankhurst design to be sold in the WSPU shop that she ran?
Banners, gifts and flags for the movement.
76
In spring 1913 how many times was Sylvia arrested?
3, going on hunger strike on her 3rd time.
77
What book did Sylvia publish and when? What was it's purpose?
Published 'The Suffragette: The History of the Women's Militant Suffrage Movement, 1905-1910' in 1911. Propaganda intended to win support for movement , emphasised sacrifice of suffragettes through militancy.
78
What about Sylvia's approach to labour differed to that of Christabel and Emmeline?
After Christabel cut ties with the ILP, Sylvia remained close to Labour, and in particular Kier Hardie the Labour leader remained a very close friend, and worked to promote women's suffrage among WC audiences.
79
When did Sylvia leave the WSPU and why?
Left in 1913 when political differences between Sylvia, her mother and her sister got too great.
80
What did Sylvia do after leaving the WSPU?
Founded the East London Federation of Suffragettes (ELFS)
81
What was ELF like?
Consisted of WC women. Included male members and was a democratically organised society.
82
When did Emily Davison join the WSPU?
1906
83
Evidence of Emily Davison's commitment to the cause?
After working as a teacher and studying at the University of Oxford, she quit in 1908 to campaign full-time for the vote.
84
What sort of campaigner was Davison?
Particularly violent (stone throwing and arson), often acting without WSPU instruction.
85
What did Davison do in 1911?
During the consensus she hid in a chapel beneath the Houses of Parliament the night before registration so that she can appear to be residing in the HoC.
86
What did Davison do in 1912?
Spent 6 months in prison for arson before falling down a staircase to win relief from the force feedings. She was left with head and spinal injuries that never fully healed.
87
What did Davison do in June 1913?
Was killed after colliding with the king's horse at the Epsom Derby. Unclear if it was suicide or if she was attempting to attach the WSPU flag.
88
How did the WSPU use Davison's tragic death?
WSPU was eager to show she had martyred herself.
89
What do historian's believe about Davison's death and why?
It was probably an accident as she kept her return rail ticket.
90
What does Davison show about Christabel and Emmeline's leadership?
They were logistically unable to control all their members
91
Why was WSPU leadership somewhat undermined by 1914?
Emmeline was in and out of prison, starvations and force feeding, ruining her health and leaving her weakened. And Christabel's role diminished when she fled to France to avoid imprisonment in 1912.
92
Example of Christabel's influence and leadership from France?
It was from Paris that Christabel directed the WSPU arson campaign.
93
Why did Christabel and Fawcett dislike the women's suffrage bill and when was the bill?
1909. They believed full adult suffrage was unpractical and represented the governments attempt to introduce a measure so radical that it would never pass.
94
What was the Party Deadlock?
Conservatives wanted women to have equal suffrage to men based on the existing property-based franchise. Liberals opposed as believed the MC and UC women this would give the vote to would be more likely to vote Conservative.
Liberals wanted an extension on the suffrage criteria so that women and more WC men could vote. Conservatives opposed as feared this would increase Labour and Liberal votes.
95
Why did Asquith not think women's suffrage was neccessary?
Both his wife Margot and daughter Violet adamantly opposed female suffrage and the actions of the WSPU.
96
What happened to Asquith in 1913?
He was assaulted by women brandishing dog whips.
97
Why did Asquith take women's suffrage off the agenda after the conciliation bill of 1910 passed its second reading?
Was too focused on government business in cabinet due to the 1910 constitutional crisis.
98
After parliament was dissolved in November 1910, what did the WSPU do? Give specifics.
Resumed hostilities. Riot broke out in Parliament Square, with 300 women being assaulted by police and 3 of whom dying as a result.
99
How many votes was the third conciliation bill defeated by and when?
March 1912, defeated by 14 votes.
100
What did the WSPU do in response to the defeat of the third conciliation bill?
Resumed militant activities, more aggressively than ever.
101
Why was the defeat of the third conciliation bill particularly disappointing?
It was effectively the same measure that parliament had passed in 1911.
102
What was the main reason for the defeat of the third conciliation bill?
Damaging effects of the WSPU's militant violence
103
What did Asquith do that contributed to the third conciliation bill's defeat? What shows his impact was not the most important factor?
He persuaded Irish Nationalist MPs to drop their support for the bill in order to secure legislation for Irish Home Rule. However this does not account for the loss of 167 votes.
104
Why did violence turn opinion away from the women's cause?
Vote seen as a responsibility not a right, and WSPU tactics called into question the character of women.
105
What were Conservative MP James Lowther's actions?
In 1913 a new franchise bill was debated that would extend vote to WC men. Lloyd George suggested striking the word 'man' so it would include WC women too. Despite this suggestion finding support in HoC, the Speaker of the House Lowther said such an amendment would change the character of the bill and invalidate it. Lowther was personally opposed to women's suffrage. Asquith was pleased and refused to draft a replacement bill.
106
What did Millicent Fawcett find out from Lloyd George in 1910?
She was informed that recent militancy had made reform impossible and alienated supporters of women's suffrage, like his wife, from the movement.
107
What violent things did the WSPU do in 1910, making many pro-suffrage MPs lose enthusiasm for the cause?
They launched an attack on Downing Street, accosting Asquith and Smashing his car's windows.
