WSPU vs NUWSS

WSPU vs NUWSS

The right to vote was an idea supported by both the WSPU and the NUWSS, however the tactics used to ensure the voices were heard were very different indeed.

The Suffrage movement, although primarily concerned with the right to vote, it also concerned itself with issues such as education and marriage. 

Initially just one group, the suffrage movement consisted of numerous members under the title of the NUWSS, however after much frustration at how the movement was heading, One lady by the name of  Emily Pankhurst founded the sister group to the NUWSS, this group was known as WSPU (BBC, 2014)

The WSPU were now known as Suffragettes and The NUWSS being referred to as Suffragists.

The key aim of the WSPU was the draw attention to the issue of women’s suffrage and the organisation developed into a formidable propaganda machine. It successful raised funds and this allowed the purchase of property in London and the provinces. In London, the WSPU established its headquarters at Clement’s Inn and in May 1910, opened a shop in Charing Cross Road – the Women’s Press. As well as earning money for the WSPU, the shop publicised the cause. Suffragette activities were organised and coordinated from Clement’s Inn and later Lincoln’s Inn. These ranged from the huge demonstrations and other major ventures as well as the less important but equally significant everyday activities of the campaign. The less prestigious activities included: organising meetings and rallies; producing a circulating leaflets and tickets for indoor meetings; organising suffragettes to chalk pavements to advertise meetings; and, design and market goods to be sold in the suffragette shops. The suffragette newspaper Votes for Women was written and produced at Clement’s Inn and sold by volunteers (often dressed in suffragette colours) and via ‘press carts’ (horse-drawn waggons decorated with WSPU propaganda) as well as in newsagents. (Moore, 2008).

http://www.hastingspress.co.uk/history/elsie.htm

For three years the WSPU did valuable propaganda work in the cotton towns of the North of England. Their plans soon turned into direct action which consisted of politicians being questioned and interrupted, and MPs challenged and ridiculed during by-election campaigns. ‘Deeds not words’ was the WSPU’s slogan and a new style for the 20^th century struggle. (Kidd & Rees, 2003)

Despite the differences in policy and style, the two organisations (the WSPU and the NUWSS) worked well together, at least in the early years! Mrs. Fawcett, President of the NUWSS, even praised the bold tactics and courage of the WSPU.

Arrest and imprisonment were tactics used by the WSPU. When their requests were turned down they would make protest speeches and be arrested. These women would choose to go to prison rather than pay fines. These tactics gave the WSPU valuable publicity and new recruits joined the movement.

By the autumn of 1907 there were changes in the WSPU. By force of personality and the support of her mother Christabel gained control of the WSPU in London. Mrs. Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel however were strongly criticised by three senior members of the organisation about their style of leadership. Some of their critics  founded a new party, the Women’s Freedom League (WFL).

 The WFL was also a militant organisation which attacked the government, however they criticised the WSPU’s campaign of vandalism against private and commercial property. Over 100 of their members were sent to prison for various offences committed while protesting against the government’s inaction on votes for women. (Moore, 2008)

 In 1897, various local women's suffrage societies formed the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, under the leadership of Millicent Fawcett. The NUWSS wanted the vote for middle class property-owning women. They believed they would achieve their end using peaceful tactics - non-violent demonstrations, petitions and the lobbying of MPs. Fawcett believed that if the organisation was seen to be intelligent, polite and law-abiding then women would prove themselves responsible enough to participate fully in politics. (BBC, 2014)



 

Millicent Fawcett addressing one of her many rallies

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle