The Direct tactics of the WSPU compared to the NUWSS are most clear. The WSPU used direct action to make their point compared to the NUWSS’s peaceful protesting. The WSPU also produced clever posters, broke windows, set fire to post boxes and fought the police when they were arrested. The NUWSS cause no such trouble throughout the war for the vote.
The women’s political representation was through no party, as no party would fully support either group. Although there were individuals within the political parties the parties in their entirety who would claim to support women, the right to vote was not popular enough to be suggested by any. The Prime Minister did not want to back down to the attacks of violence from the Suffragettes, possibly implying that the Suffragists methods were more constructive in the fight.
The WSPU were not successful during any campaign of violence. It was not until after the war that the government allowed women to vote. The reason for this was thus, having just had a war, the British Government did not wish to have another within its own borders. The reason for their allowing the vote was anticipating the public reaction to more violence having just been through the great war.
During the war, it was the NUWSS that really made its mark, rather than the WSPU. They allowed the Government access to their funds and set up many organisations such as the VADs (Voluntary Aid Detachment). The women proved their worth by working long hours in such forces as the WAACs (Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps). This is more than likely to have influenced the Governments decision to relent and give the vote after the war.
The methods of action for the Suffragists and –Gettes varied greatly during their campaigns, but often crossed each others boundaries. The result they wanted was the same, but they were coming in a pincer movement, from opposite sides, to get the Government to give them what they wanted. The war effort made by the NUWSS was one of the major influences on the British Government, but it was by no means the only one.
