Political Alliances of WSPU and NUWSS

At the start of the suffrage movement in the mid-19th century, British politics were made up of two groups. These were 'The Whigs and Tories' (Parliament, 2014).

AS the 19th century moved on, the Whigs and Tories evolved into more mainstream parties. The Whigs became the 'Liberals' and the 'Tories' became the Conservatives. These two parties remained a dominating force in politics until the 1920's when Britain saw the formation of Ramsay McDonald's party 'New Labour' (Mortimer, 2000)

Satirical print with upside-down heads: Whigs / Tories

https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/4849

NUWWS

Claiming to have no political ties, many suffragists did hold close links with the Liberal Party or showed sympathy towards the party aims as most NUWSS members were family members of Liberal politicians (Mortimer, 2000).

The NUWSS would actively campaign and show their support for any party or candidate who showed support for the female vote (Mortimer, 2000).

MIllicent Fawcett, a liberal, became increasingly frustrated at  the Liberal's delaying tactics, this made Fawcett show her support more towards labour candidates at the time of the election. (Mortimer, 2000).

WSPU

Active members of WSPU vehemently opposed and openly criticised Liberal and Labour and their candidates (Purvis, 2002).

1907 saw a turnaround in WSPU tactics, gradually portraying itself as a more middle class organisation and distancing themselves from the Labour Party (Purvis, 2002).

Leading members of WSPU, the Pankhursts, upset senior members of WSPU with their militant actions and aggressive campaigning. This led to the formation of the Womens Freedom League (WFL) in 1907 by 70 members of WSPU which included Teresa Billington-Greig, Charlotte Despard, Elizabeth How-Martyn, and Margaret Nevinson (Trueman, 2000).

Hunger Strikes and The Cat and Mouse Act

Hunger Strikes and The Cat and Mouse Act

The first arrests came about in 1905 when two active members of the suffrage movement, namely Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney, interrupted a political meeting between Sir Edward Grey and the future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The two men were asked 'if they believed women should have the right to vote' (Trueman, 2013) there was no response from either man.

Due to their disruptive actions, both women were promptly thrown out of the meeting and arrested for causing an obstruction and also for a technical assault on a police officer (Purvis, 2009).

The Hunger strike came about from being granted the status of political prosioner (Purvis, 2009) and as a backlash to this lack of acknowledgement, the hunger strike was put into action. The Government did not want the Suffragettes to die in prison and be seen as martyrs by the public so they introduced force feeding (Trueman, 2013).

On 5 July 1909, the imprisoned suffragette Marion Wallace Dunlop, a sculptor and illustrator, went on hunger strike. A member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), founded by Emmeline Pankhurst in 1903 to campaign for the parliamentary vote for women, she had been sent to Holloway prison for printing an extract from the bill of rights on the wall of St Stephen's Hall in the House of Commons. In her second division cell, Wallace Dunlop refused all food as a protest against the unwillingness of the authorities to recognise her as a political prisoner, and thus entitled to be placed in the first division where inmates enjoyed certain privileges. (Purvis, 2009)

Of her Hunger strike, Dunlop claimed it was 'a matter of principle, not only for my own sake but for the sake of others who may come after me … refusing all food until this matter is settled to my satisfaction' (Purvis, 2009).

The Government were extremely embarrassed by the situation of force feeding because of the severity of the tactics used to force feed the women, 'The forcible feeding of women was a brutal and life-threatening procedure conducted against the wishes of the "patient". The hunger striker was held down on a bed by wardresses or tied to a chair which they tipped back. Then a rubber tube was either forced up the nose or down the throat and into the stomach. The latter method was particularly painful because a steel gap was pushed into the mouth and screwed open, as wide as possible. Tissue in the nose and throat was nearly always damaged, while sometimes the tube was accidentally inserted into the windpipe, causing food to enter the lungs and endangering life. This invasion of the body, accompanied by overpowering physical force, suffering and humiliation made many women feel they had been raped, with the words "violation" or "outrage" being commonly used' (Purvis, 2009)

The Cat and Mouse Act



http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage

The government sought to deal with the problem of hunger striking suffragettes with the 1913 Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health) Act, commonly known as the Cat and Mouse Act. 

This Act allowed for the early release of prisoners who were so weakened by hunger striking that they were at risk of death.  They were to be recalled to prison once their health was recovered, where the process would begin again. (Parliament.UK, 2014)

Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)

Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)

The long and arduous task faced by the members of the NUWSS when formed in 1897 in time caused dissension in the ranks amongst the group's more senior members. One particular member, Emily Pankhurst, was so frustrated by 'gradualist tactics of the NUWSS' (BBC, 2014) that she, along with other members, to form The Women's Social and Political Union in 1903. Initially joined by her eldest daughter Christabel, she was also later joined by her other daughters Sylvia and Adele (Trueman, 2013).

The members of the newly formed WSPU would be known as Suffragettes.

Below is a short biography of Emily Pankhurst:

Emmeline Goulden was born on 14 July 1858 in Manchester into a family with a tradition of radical politics. In 1879, she married Richard Pankhurst, a lawyer and supporter of the women's suffrage movement. He was the author of the Married Women's Property Acts of 1870 and 1882, which allowed women to keep earnings or property acquired before and after marriage. His death in 1898 was a great shock to Emmeline.

In 1889, Emmeline founded the Women's Franchise League, which fought to allow married women to vote in local elections. In October 1903, she helped found the more militant Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) - an organisation that gained much notoriety for its activities and whose members were the first to be christened 'suffragettes'. Emmeline's daughters Christabel and Sylvia were both active in the cause. British politicians, press and public were astonished by the demonstrations, window smashing, arson and hunger strikes of the suffragettes. In 1913, WSPU member Emily Davison was killed when she threw herself under the king's horse at the Derby as a protest at the government's continued failure to grant women the right to vote.

In 1918, the Representation of the People Act gave voting rights to women over 30. Emmeline died on 14 June 1928, shortly after women were granted equal voting rights with men (at 21).







Emmeline Pankhurst wanted a greater commitment to women’s political rights from the ILP (Independent Labour Party). She wanted the ILP to simply state that women had the right to the same political status as men. The first primary role of the new Women’s Social and Political Union was to put pressure on the ILP. They were helped in this as a number of the members of the Women’s Social and Political Union were married to ILP members. From its start, the WSPU wanted to live by its motto: "Deeds, not words" (Trueman, 2013).

The Women’s Social and Political Union did not start out as a militant movement. In later years, former members of the WSPU claimed that the movement had been pushed into its militant stance by the intransigent behaviour of the government of the day.

In 1906, when Asquith’s Liberal Party came to power, the hopes of the WSPU were raised simply because the Liberal Party was seen as the party that would pioneer women’s political rights in Britain. The Women’s Social and Political Union believed that the Liberal Party by the very nature of liberalism would push forward political reform. When this did not happen, militancy became common place with regards to WSPU actions. In fact, militancy was not new to some members of the WSPU. Some of the older members had achieved some fame in the years before the WSPU had been formed. Dora Montefiore had urged civil disobedience in the 1890’s in the form of non-payment of taxes. In 1906, Montefiore had refused to pay her tax on the basis that "taxation without representation is tyranny". Her house was besieged for six weeks by bailiffs waiting to get out furniture valued to the amount of tax she owed. (Trueman, 2013)

Key Events of 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

Feb: ‘Mud March’- suffragist march on Parliament – so-called because of the awful weather

Women’s Parliament at Caxton Hall

Sept: 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. WFL establishes the paper The Vote

Oct:  Votes for Women launched

1908

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

June: Mass Hyde park rally

Dec: Actresses Franchise League established at meeting at Criterion Restaurant

1909

First hunger strikes by suffragettes. Forcible feeding introduced

May: Votes for Women Exhibition, Prince’s Skating Rink, Knightsbridge

Formation of the National League for Opposing Women’s Suffrage.

Dissolution of Parliament following battles over budget.

Nov: A Pageant of Great Women first performed at Scala Theatre

1910

Liberals return to power with reduced majority.

‘The Truce’ is declared – an end to militancy as Conciliation Committee promotes Suffrage Bill which passes second reading. Parliament dissolved once more following struggles between Liberal government and House of Lords.

July: Major rally in Hyde Park

Women march on House of Commons: Black Friday

1911

April: No Vote No Census protest

Record-breaking Coronation procession

Re-election of Liberal government. Further Truce with militants. New Conciliation Bill passes second reading with large majority – only to be torpedoed in November.

1912

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

Mar: Christabel flees to Paris.

Oct: Sylvia Pankhurst establishes campaign in East End in support of George Lansbury and his candidacy in Bow and Bromley by-election

Split in WSPU as Emmeline and Frederick Pethick-Lawrence are expelled. They continue to edit Votes for Women. WSPU sets up The Suffragette.

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/



Emily Davison and the Kings Horse

Emily Davison and the Kings Horse

(11th October 1872 - 8th June 1913)

Emily Wilding Davison was born in Blackheath in southeast London on 11 October 1872. She studied at Royal Holloway College and at Oxford University, although women were not allowed to take degrees at that time.

In 1906, she joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), founded by Emmeline Pankhurst. Three years later she gave up her job as a teacher and went to work full-time for the suffragette movement. She was frequently arrested for acts ranging from causing a public disturbance to burning post boxes and spent a number of short periods in jail.(Parliament, 2014).

On the eve on the 1911 census, Davison hid in a cupboard in the House of Commons. This forced the census to register the House of Commons as her home address. (Parliament, 2014).

1911 census showing Davison' s hiding place 

http://ancestry-emily-wilding-davison-hiding-on-census-night

The Epsom Derby

4th of June 1913 saw the tragic demise of Emily Davison as she stepped out in front of the King's Horse Amner at the Epsom Derby (BBC, 2014).

The resulting impact with the horse instantly knocked Davison down and as a result of this she died from her injuries 4 days later (BBC, 2014).

Images showing the impact between Davison and Amner in 1913

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/derby_of_june_1913.htm

The true intentions of Davison's actions will never be revealed as there are differing opinions surrounding her death. 

Some have the opinion that Davison planned the event and chose to be a martyr to the cause and take her own life

A more plausible theory is that Davison simply attempted to pin a suffragette flag onto the Horse but sadly miscalculated and tragically died as a result of her actions. Upon inspection of her possessions after the incident , Davison was found to be in possession of numerous items including a return railway ticket, writing paper, envelopes and stamps. (BBC, 2014) 

Why would a person wishing to commit suicide carry a return railway ticket with them if they had no intentions of returning home?

Davison sadly died 4 days after the incident in hospital from her injuries and a verdict of misadventure was recorded as her cause of death (BBC, 2014).

The Beginning of a Movement

THE BEGINNING OF A MOVEMENT

The thought of Women voting, getting married, owning property, being employed or studying in a place of education would not even raise an eyebrow in today's society. The number of children that are born into society are at the complete control of today's modern woman. Sadly this was not the case in the early part of the nineteenth century.

Marriage and Property laws:

Most women had little choice but to marry and upon doing so everything they owned, inherited and earned automatically belonged to their husband. This meant that if an offence or felony was committed against her, only her husband could prosecute. Furthermore, rights to the woman personally - that is, access to her body - were his. Not only was this assured by law, but the woman herself agreed to it verbally: written into the marriage ceremony was a vow to obey her husband, which every woman had to swear before God as well as earthly witnesses. Not until the late 20th century did women obtain the right to omit that promise from their wedding vows (Wojtczak, 2009).

It was common place for a man of a poorer social class to marry a woman of a higher social class as the male inherited all of his wife's personal property and assets upon marriage. The Married Women's Property Act 1882  stated: 

'Under the terms of the act married women had the same rights over their property as unmarried women. This act therefore allowed a married woman to retain ownership of property which she might have received as a gift from a parent' (Simkin, 1997)

Before such time as the Property act being passed, the female, upon marriage had no right to keep her property or fortune. All of this went to her new husband,

'A woman became essentially a chattel of her husband; her wealth and possessions were now all his. No wonder plot lines of so many early nineteenth century novels involve a poor and unscrupulous gentleman stalking a rich heiress! A woman could be forced, by law, to return to her abusive husband and if the marriage broke down she had no legal rights over her children who automatically stayed with their father'. (Jones, 2012).

Education:

Even with the influential works written by Mary Wollstonecraft in 1792, it still took over 60 years to allow women in to education on the same level as men. In 1878 the University of London became the first to admit Women to its degrees. With this increase in knowledge and a more informed generation of females, it could quite possibly be a leading factor in the  formation of the NUWSS (National Union of Women's Suffrage) and WSPU (Women's Social and Political Union) (Purvis, 1995).

 

 

 

 

Class:

 

Social class in the 19th Century was a thing of great importance with females who came from a more prosperous background being chased by men of lower status in order to secure their personal fortune as the females had to give way any right they had to property and finance upon marrying their new husbands (Jones, 2012).

 

This changed however when middle class women started to become educated and meet with other like minded educate middle class women. The realisation that they were giving up all of their assets when they became married resulted in a stirring of emotions and the rumblings of a formation of a movement.

 

Motherhood:

 

Women of wealth had the luxury of handing responsibilities of motherhood over to 'wet nurses' who were paid to look after and take responsibility for the children. The working class mothers sadly did not have this luxury and were expected to go out to work, bring up the children, keep the home and tend to the needs of her husband. Due to the lack of contraception, women were in a never ending cycle of motherhood ' every man had the right to force his wife into sex and childbirth' (Wojtczak, 2009).

 

Early Petitions and Lobbying:

 

The first British female lobbyists were Barbara Leigh Smith (Later Barbara Bodichon) (1827-91), and Bessie Rayner Parkes (1829-1925). These two women organised a petition for a Married Woman's Property Bill (to do with a wife's right to keep her own property and income), and launched the Englishwoman’s Journal in 1858. In 1859 they founded The Society for Promoting the Employment of Women, and a Ladies Institute at 19 Langham Place. In 1865 the ladies of Langham Place organised a petition for a Woman’s Suffrage Bill to be presented to parliament, by John Stuart Mill. He took the issue of women’s right into parliament, a task that no woman was allowed to ever do (Richards, 1999).

A Vindication of the Rights of Women

Mary Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792). 

This book is widely considered to be the founding work of feminism.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/425417.Vindication

Wollstonecraft's main argument is surrounding the fact that she believes that women had an inferior position within society. The main argument centres around women and education. Wollstonecraft supports her argument by stating that women have a 'neglected education' and therefore are 'rendered weak and wretched'. (Wollstonecraft, 1792)

Wollstonecraft feels strongly about that fact that women do not have the right opportunities to form their own Independence in regards to marriage and education.

Her displeasure at the teaching of women in beauty and not in education were only 'anxious to inspire love'.

Where marriage is concerned, Wollstonecraft states that men and women should marry for equal reasons and not for personal gain by stating 'nor will women ever fulfil the peculiar duties of their sex, till they become free, by being enabled to earn their own subsistence, independent of men' (Wollstonecraft, 1792).

 In regards to employment, Wollstonecraft reiterates the need for women to be better educated in order for women to gain better employment by stating that women 'who might have practised as physicians, regulated a farm, managed a shop and stood erect supported by their own industry' (Wollstonecraft, 1792).

At no point in the piece of writing does Wollstonecraft call for an uprising of power for women but it is clear in the tone and style of writing used that she expects women to be treated as equals and given the same rights as men.

Why Were Women Granted the Vote?

Why Were Women Granted the Vote?

There is no doubt in my mind that the effort given by women during the WW1 campaign was a key factor in the right to vote being granted. 

On February 6th 1918 the government passed the Representation of the People Act which allowed property owning women over the age of 30 the right to vote (Trueman, 2000)

An extract from The Representation of People Act 1918

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/brave_new_world/docs/repofthepeople_act.htm

Why Women were Granted the Vote

Many would argue that the effort by the women of Britain during the was instrumental to securing the right vote.

Many Historians believe that, as an act of gratitude, British Parliament granted the right to vote for the women's contribution during the war (Bartley, 2007).

The British media during the war and public opinion, according to (Rover, 1967) was also influential to securing the vote for women after the war.

The suffrage campaign to enfranchise women was strongly rumoured to be continuing after the war, thus resulting in the Government being granted the right to vote out of fear of facing a new domestic invasion of suffrage campaigners (Rover, 1967).

Historians suggest that the war in reality postponed women gaining the vote. There is evidence to suggest that before the war broke out the Liberal party was altering their minds on the suffrage movement, supporting the grant for women to gain the vote (Holton, 1986).