Describe the ways in which the methods of the Suffragists and Suffragettes were different.
The NUWSS (Suffragists) was formed in 1897 by Millicent Garrett Fawcet. The suffragists were not as violent as the suffragettes who were founded in 1903 by the Pankhurst Family. The suffragists were based in the north and they used moderate and law-abiding tactics but the suffragettes were different. They started of in the north and moved to London. They used direct action, shock tactics and sometimes used violence. Both the suffragists and the suffragettes were campaigning for the same thing but both use different methods.
The suffragists used to use tactics such as collecting petitions, lobbying MPs, holding numerous drawing-room meetings, they would take their children with them when they were campaigning and they would go canvassing. This was where the women would go from door to door asking people what they thought, a few of the suffragists were trained speakers, they used a lot of propaganda, made banners, paintings, leaflets and acted out plays. The NUWSS decided to put up male candidates for election, so he could stand against the liberal politicians. This took a lot of votes from other parties. 3,000 women took part in a Mud March, which was for Hyde Park to The Strand. They had brass bands playing and there were also a few influential speakers such as H.G.Wells and Keir Hardie, who was the leaded of the Labour party. In 1911 the Prime Minister suspended debates on the Conciliation Bill, which might have given votes for women. This was so he could get involved in other matters. Both the suffragists and the suffragettes were very angry about so women refused to take part in the Census, this was know as the Census Boycott. They used the coronation of King George to protest peacefully. The suffragettes were also involved but protested peacefully. It was a seven mile long women’s procession and 60,000 women turned up. The suffragists helped finance the Labour candidates, which was called the ‘Set up friends scheme’. There was also a six-week pilgrimage where women would walk all the way round Britain.
