Describe the ways in which the methods of the suffragists and the Suffragettes were different

Authors Avatar

Sammy Alkhalaf                06.11.05

Describe the ways in which the methods of the suffragists and the Suffragettes were different

During the 1860s many separate groups formed campaigning for women’s suffrage. These groups were called suffragist societies and were mainly based in large cities. In 1897 Millicent Fawcett brought all the societies into the single NUWSS (National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies). In just a few years membership increased to about 50000 and even included some male members. In 1903 after campaigning for 40 years and achieving very little a separate group split off and formed the WSPU (Women’s Social and Political Union) led by Emmeline Pankhurst. These two separate groups were called Suffragists and Suffragettes respectively and they had very different methods.

The Suffragists acted constitutionally to try and gain votes for women. They carried on with the same methods for nearly 50 years. They were peaceful and included activities such as writing letters and creating petitions. They tried to prove to men that they were sensible and should be allowed to vote because they were just as intelligent and able to make informed decisions as men. They tried to get MPs to join their cause by polite persuasion and asking questions. This was the main group and they were not as radical as the Suffragettes. Many felt let down by the activities of the Suffragettes as what they did had the opposite effect to what the Suffragists wanted.

Join now!

The Suffragettes had a more militant approach. When they originally broke off from the Suffragists they still acted mainly within the law. They attacked the government at by-elections, where they could make a larger impact than at a general election since they could concentrate their activities on a single constituency. They opposed liberal candidates who supported votes for women as well as those who did not. This was because, as they saw it, the existing government would not grant women’s suffrage and the best way to bring it down was to oppose all of its supporters. The purpose of their ...

This is a preview of the whole essay