Explain how and why the methods used by the suffragettes changed between 1903 and 1915

By 1912 they started using violence. They smashed windows and burned empty buildings. They disrupted public events like the Derby in 1913. They thought that if they went on hunger strike then people would listen to them. When they did they were forcibly fed by having a tube put down their throats. In 1913 an act was passed that allowed suffragettes to be released from prison until they had recovered from their hunger strike and then be re-arrested. This was dubbed the ‘Cat and Mouse’ Act by the suffragettes.

By 1914, when the war stated, the vote had still not been won. It may have been because of the suffragettes’ violence that had put many MP’s off the idea. As the men went off to fight their jobs became vacant. The women took their place. They thought that it was more important to be patriotic and help in the war effort than to try and win the right to vote.

This could have been a subtle tactic to persuade men to give them the right to vote. They proved that they can do any job that a man can do just as well and that they can work for just as long.

If the suffragettes had continued using violence it would have been more likely that women wouldn’t have won the right to vote. It showed that women were irresponsible. It also showed that women were very passionate about what they believe in, but many men wouldn’t have seen that side of the argument.

They war may have been a good thing from a women’s point of view. If it hadn’t of happened then they would have continued to use violence. This would have made it much more unlikely that men would have given them the right to vote.