The actions of Nellie Hall alocal Birmingham Suffragette - Do the sources support the view that the government and media regard the suffragettes as irresponsible?

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William Pearson

Assignment 2: ‘The actions of Nellie Hall a

local Birmingham Suffragette

4. Use all the sources.  Do the sources support the view that the government and media regard the suffragettes as irresponsible?

The six pieces are all written by different people and are from all different sources.  Some are from media backgrounds, some government and some are slightly ambiguous as who they are from.  Sources A and D are written by or a direct link to the government, sources B, C and E are by the media and finally source F is a standard letter from the government with an extra note on the bottom written by Nellie Hall herself.

Source B is definitely supporting the view that the suffragettes are irresponsible.  It is a transcript from a newspaper article, from a local Birmingham paper.  It describes the scene in Marylebone Police Court.  The source uses lots of language to imply that the women (Nellie Hall included/suffragette) were very irresponsible in court.  ‘She indulged in an outburst’ this implies that she was enjoying it and that she was irresponsible.  It also states the charges set against Nellie Hall and the other women.  ‘loose, idle, and disorderly persons’ which in itself shows the medias intention to show its dislike towards the suffragettes.  

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Sources A, D and F share this view that the suffragettes are irresponsible but are from different areas.  Source D is a letter from the Home secretary at the time to Nellie Hall, extending her temporary discharge.  The only way that she would be able to be given temporary discharge is to have been released due to ill health.  At the time suffragettes were refusing food and water in prison so that they could be released.  This is considered by the government as irresponsible behaviour, as it is disregarding the health of themselves to go against the government, just ...

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