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WSPU 1903-14 - Coggle Diagram
WSPU 1903-14
WSPU
By 1911 it had 122 branches
'Votes for Women' had circulation of 40,000 by 1910
KEY LEADERS
Annie Kenney (WC) Christabel Adela Sylvia Teresa Billington-Grieg Emmeline
1906 - Emmeline Pethick-Larence and her husband joined WSPU - financial support and decided Suffragette colours and established Votes for Women
By 1906 they had spent over £2000 on campaigning, but in 1907 they raised over £20,000
LEADERSHIP
Had a Central Committee leadership system Unelected with Christabel and Emmeline as the overall leaders
Also had subcommittees and Home Sessions and 11 regional offices
LINK WITH LABOUR
1906 - Christabel severed ties with ILP because was uncertain of their true aims to secure women the vote
1907 - Keir Hardie as leader of Labour Party said that women vote would be in tandem with mens (women wanted their won piece of legislation)
Christabel inspired acts of arson including burning down ant-Suffrage MPs houses
Attacks on churches - 50 in 1913
INCREASED MILITANCY
Following the election of Herbert Asquith as Liberal PM (whose white and daughters opposed women suffrage), Hyde Park demonstration of 500,000 failed to gain acknowledgement from government
WINDOW BREAKING
Autumn 1908 - Christabel launched a window breaking campaign for disorder and pressure
Imprsioned for 2 months
Target private property to show normal life cannot continue while women are marginalised
Target on Asquith with slates thrown at his car and assault on a golf course
1909 - windows of Home Office, Treasury and Privy Council smashed
HUNGER STRIKE
Good publicity and was their only power when in prison
Government introduced force feedings which was abhorrent and bad press for gov
Cat and Mouse Act 1913 - women released when hunger strike became dire, then re-arrested when healthy enough
Demoralising and damaging to Emmeline Pankhursts own health
Government could not claim to have any moral advantage now
18 Nov 1910
Gov refused to debate legislation for women's suffrage
WSPU responded by sending 3000 women into HoC - became known as Black Friday
Police beat and often sexually assaulted the women leaving severe injuries
Christabel declared war on men, Emmeline believed the Liberal Party was the enemy
WSPU tried to avoid street protest and focus on property destruction
1912 - fire bombed letter boxes, targeted artwork and set fire to property alongside window smashing
13 paintings in Manchester Art Gallery attacked, while street lights, gold greens and train carriages were damaged
LEGISLATION
1909 - Private Members Bill
Liberal party
Give some women and all men the vote
Passed second reading stage but got no further was not allowed enough time for debate
Other factors more important: home rule, People's Budget
Announcement of general election 1910 meant Liberals focused on their campaign
1910 Conciliation Committee
Emmeline Pankhurst and Millicent Fawcett
NUWSS and WSPU formed cross-party to achieve suffrage for 1 million women - Pankhurst called for end to militancy
Bill drafted, 300 MPs agreed to support 250,000 names in petition
Asquith refused to support
Passed second reading stage but Asquith refused to allow time for debate
1911 Conciliation Bill
Bill proposed again as private members
Asquith promised 1 week parliamentary debate
Passed reading at 255 to 200 votes
Asquith declared his own male suffrage Bill with some women
WSPU returned to militancy
1912 Conciliation Bill
Proposed a third time
Voted down 222 votes to 208
Irish Home Rule was bigger issue - Irish Party filibustered bill so that Ireland could stay on the agenda
MPs who promised to vote in support voted against
Asquith'I think we are nearly out of the woods'
1913 Franchise bill
Liberal Party
Increased male suffrage with debate about amendment to allow limited women
Was never a serious possbility
HoC overruled amendment
Arson attacks of 1913 pushed away moderate supporters of suffragettes
DIVISIONS BETWEEN WOMEN
WOMENS NATIONAL ANTI-SUFFRAGE LEAGUE Formed 1908 By Mrs Humphrey Ward By 1913 there were 97 branches
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NUWSS
1897 Millicent Fawcett
Had 31 branches by 1906
Formed an alliance with the Labour Party
Aimed to ensure local politicians only selected if they were in support of women vote - they succeeded by 1906 the HoC had 415 MPs sympathetic to women's causes
TACTICS
Summer 1905 - 30 members 'Deeds, not words' Meeting disruptions and heckling
Christabel initiated militancy campaign by disrupting Sir Edward Grey in a public meeting with Annie Kenney (both imprisoned)
Drew inspiration from Irish Home Rule movement, who opposed all Liberal Candidates
'Suffragette' - Daily Mail
Chaining to railings and statues outside HoC
25 October 1906, WSPU group broke into HoC lobby and waved flags, and made speeches
10 arrested (9 were middle and upper class)
Respectable ladies rests caused outrage
Eg Mrs Cobden, wife of Reform Politician won support for WSPU even from NUWSS
Feb 1907 - held first 'Women's parliament' at Caxon Hall in Westminster - attacked by police and 38 arrested including Christabel and Sylvia (imprisoned for a few weeks)
Triggered support for women's rights - NUWSS hosted 'mud march' of 3000
EMILY DAVISON
WSPU member from 1906 Frequently acted outside WSPU instruction 1912 - 6 months in Holloway prison for arson before falling down stairs to avoid force feedings (left with head and spinal injuries that never healed)
June 1913 - killed by the Kings Horse at Epsom Races
BY 1914
Rule by charm Christabel central to adoption of militant tactics Commitment to the cause molded WSPU into effective political force
Lesbian claims of Annie Kenney and Christabel
1912 - Christabel flees to France to avoid imprisonment
Family dysfunction of Pankhursts
1913 - Emmeline imprisoned 3 years for threatening to blow up Lloyd George's house - constant cycle of starvation and force feeding ruined her health
Leadership diminished by 1914