There methods of protest included issuing leaflets, collecting signatures on a petition and holding meetings. Also they met leading politicians and argued their case . However they had no real success, even though sympathetic MPs introduced private bills to parliament proposing to give women the vote. Overall women were refused the vote fifteen times.
The suffragettes were the violent protesters and felt a more direct contribution was needed. They formed due to the lack off success from the suffragists. As a result Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst founded a new campaigning organization called the women’s social and political Union.
Suffragettes found a leader in Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928). In 1903 she founded the women’s social and political Union to fight for votes for women. Suffragettes found themselves up against the Liberal government, led by the Prime Minister, H.H. Asquith, and plenty of ordinary people (men and women) who opposed their aims and methods. Many of the women were imprisoned. In order to gain greater publicity, some adopted hunger strikes. The government introduced a new law, the Cat and Mouse Act of 1913 to deal with this: a woman near to death was released but once a woman was restored to health, she was put back in prison.
She felt that the movement had to become more radical and militant if it was to succeed. Soon they made the headlines. There ways of protest and getting their points across was to do things such as chaining themselves to railings, starving themselves and arson. They were more successful than the suffragists. However it was hard for the group to keep control over some of their members for example two women went down to 10. Downing Street and threw rocks through two windows. In 1908 the WSPU marched through Hyde Park where they formed the largest mass meeting ever held. In 1918 limited suffrage was granted and this was a great success for the suffragettes.
The relationships between the two groups were not good and there was immense rivalry between the two. Source c shows the differences as on the left (the suffragist) is calm very smart and not being abusive or violent. However on the right (the suffragette) she is also well respected but is waving a banner and showing her fist so possibly this group felt more passionate about the campaign.
Source d shows that the suffragettes have been patient in giving the government time to make their decisions but as they kept turning them down they felt that they had to fight for their cause therefore forming the groups.
The First World War changed everything. Suffragettes abandoned their campaign in order actively to support the war. Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel became committed to the war effort. Her other daughter Sylvia was a pacifist but remained a committed suffragette.
Meanwhile many women found their lives changed forever by having to fend for themselves while so many men were away. Not only did they have to look after their families but were encouraged to go out and work in jobs which had been traditionally men’s. Women eventually gained the vote in 1918 when the Qualification of women act gave women over the age of thirty the vote if they were householders. Ten years later, the Equal Franchise gave all men and women aged 21 or over the vote.
