WSPU - Tactics of the WSPU Flashcards
Early tactics - What were the WSPU’s early tactics like
Initial tactics fairly constitutional and conservative
Early tactics - WSPU journal
WSPU published a journal, ‘The Suffragette’ which featured articles in support of their cause
Early tactics - Protests
They took part in marches such as the May Days protests with green and purple banners
Early tactics - What and when was the Mud March?
In Feb 1907, they took part in the ‘Mud March’ alongside the NUWSS, a large-scale protest march which coincided with the opening of Parliament
Early tactics - How could one separate NUWSS and WSPU up to 1908?
Up to 1908, there is very little to separate the NUWSS and the WSPU, with the exception that the WSPU also heckled ministers at public meetings EG Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney were both arrested in Manchester on a charge of obstruction
Early tactics - Overall view on early tactics?
Overall, this radical side of the WSPU’s tactics were very much in their infancy up until 1908, although hunger strikes had been started by 1908
Increased militancy 1909-10 - What was the turning point for the movement?
The turning point came in 1908 – PM Asquith was sceptical over whether the majority of women wanted the vote and refused to consider the question of female suffrage unless there was a clear public demonstration – in response, somewhere between 250,000-500,000 women gathered in a huge meeting in Hyde Park in June 1908 demanding the vote – despite this impressive show of support, Asquith was unmoved, convincing the WSPU’s leaders that peaceful tactics weren’t working, and a shift to more radical action was needed
Increased militancy 1909-10 - What happened from 1909?
From 1909 the WSUP took more militant action – Christabel led a wave of attacks on property in 1909 including throwing stones through the windows on London social clubs, burning post boxes and attacks on golf greens
Increased militancy 1909-10 - Property?
They also attempted to damage property belonging to politicians such as the house of Lloyd George
Increased militancy 1909-10 - How did public demonstrations change?
Public demonstrations were no longer used as a peaceful tactic, but as a way of attempting to storm political locations such as Parliament and Downing Street – in 1909, 27 suffragettes were arrested for throwing stones through the windows of 10 Downing Street
Increased militancy 1909-10 - When and what was Black Friday?
In Nov 1910, a number of suffragettes, including Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, were arrested in fights with police outside Parliament, an event which became known as Black Friday
Increased militancy 1909-10 - What started to become more prevalent from 1909?
Also from 1909, hunger strikes became more serious as prisons began force feeding suffragettes, which made hunger strikes more effective as a tactic for gaining public attention
1911-12 - A temporary pause - What did the gov do in 1911, what did the lead to, and what happened to this?
In 1911, the gov suggested a law which might give a small number of wealthy women the vote, called the Conciliation Bill – the WSPU paused their tactics to allow Parliamentary allies a chance to push the bill through – although it passed the second reading, it ultimately failed due to a lack of parliamentary time
1911-12 - A temporary pause - What did the Lib gov announce after the first bill and what did the WSPU see this as and do as a result?
The Lib gov announced that a new bill would be proposed, this time aimed at male suffrage but with the possibility of considering female franchise as an amendment – the WSPU saw this as a betrayal and returned to a far more radical period of campaigning
1912-14 - A new period of militancy - What happened from 1912?
From 1912, the militant campaigns became more extreme than previously
