Describe the Ways in Which the Methods of the Suffragists and Suffragettes Were Different

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Describe the Ways in Which the Methods of the Suffragists and Suffragettes Were Different

The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) campaigned for Women’s rights using peaceful methods. Its leader was Lydia Becker until she died in 1980. The leadership then fell to Millicent Garrett Fawcett. The NUWSS was given the nickname ‘Suffragists’ by the Daily mail.

The Suffragists used, peaceful methods to try and achieve their goal of the vote for Women. These methods included:

Petitions – massively signed petitions presented to the parliament. The petition in 1874 was the biggest of them all

Leaflets/Posters – leaflets and posters were the most popular campaign methods for the Suffragists. They were made and distributed among everyone and often showed how badly women were treated and then later on how bad the Suffragettes methods were.

Peaceful Protests – Lots of protests and marches were held all over England. Lots of these often included Suffragette as well as Suffragists but normally remained peaceful. A march in 1908 which went through central London and ended at the Royal Albert Hall consisted of over thirteen thousand women.

Organised Meetings – these were held where possible and contained lot of lectures and talks on votes for women and campaigning techniques.

The Suffragists main idea was to campaign within the law. This was done to show how rational these women were. They wanted to let the government and public know that these women were very respectable and could be entirely trusted with the vote. They that their good behaviour could impress the government and that after a long, slow but steady struggle they would finally be able to get the vote they wanted.

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The work of the NUWSS continued throughout the early years of the twentieth century. Some women, however, became dissatisfied with peaceful methods and thought that the only way to get votes for women was by using more aggressive methods. These women formed the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU, also known as the Suffragettes). Most of the Suffragists were not opposed to the methods of the Suffragettes but they simply thought that they would not work.

The most important figure in the creation of the WSPU was Dr Richard Prankhurst. He was a firm supporter of votes for Women ...

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