The woman's suffrage movement grew out of the changing relationship between men and women in the 19th Century, and the passing of the 1832 great reform bill enfranchising 'male persons' was an important event in women's history.

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The woman’s suffrage movement grew out of the changing relationship between men and women in the 19th Century, and the passing of the 1832 great reform bill enfranchising ‘male persons’ was an important event in women’s history.  It was the inclusion of the word ‘male’ that provided the first statutory bar to women voting.  In 1886, John Stuart Mill and Henry Fawcett presented a petition signed by 1,499 women, praying that enfranchisement should be without distinction of sex.   This presented a focus of attack and a source of resentment from which in time, the women’s suffrage movement grew.  From there on after, according to Rover (1967) “The event marked the commencement of a continuous campaign for women’s suffrage, organised by women extending until the vote was won.”(p.5)

In 1897 the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies was formed with Lydia Becker as president, however when she died three years later Millicent Fawcett took over the reigns. It was a middle class movement that held public meetings, organised petitions, wrote letters to politicians, published newspapers and distributed free literature. Although they were very determined to achieve their purpose of votes for women, they never resorted to violence to do so.  

Emmeline Pankhurst’s decision to start and form a new association was prompted by the disappointment with the Labour Party and the frustration of the NUWSS’S lack of success.  Snellgrove (1964) states, “The Women’s Social and Political Union’s object was stated to be, “immediate enfranchisement’ by ‘political action”. (p.24) This new movement were asking for votes for women on the same terms, as men possess them.  They were not asking for the vote for every woman, but that a woman shall not be refused a vote simply because she is a woman.  It was believed that women, who pay taxes and bear the responsibilities imposed upon men voters, should have the same political rights.

The WSPU saw the unity of women as more important than the division of class and suggested that the subordination of women to men was as least as significant as class oppression.  As suggested by Bartley (1998)“In bringing women from different classes together, the WSPU helped weaken the class divisions, which characterised Edwardian Britain.”(p.38) They educated its membership, encouraged their self-confidence and helped to develop political awareness.  Many suffragettes spoke of the way in which they were taught skills of public speaking and debate.

Bartley (1998) believes, “Although the WSPU later adopted a confrontational style they continued to combine more traditional methods with the new.”(p.47) Speeches were still made in different parts of the country to all kinds of people, a weekly newspaper was published and pamphlets and handbills were distributed at every opportunity.  Perhaps it was the speech making which showed how women had changed since 1867, certainly courage was needed, as stated by Snellgrove (1964) “Suffragette speakers were pelted with stones, tomatoes, flour, dead and sometimes live mice.”(p.25)

Members of the NUWSS felt the militant actions of the WSPU would alienate potential supporters of women suffrage.   Nevertheless, the WSPU was responsible for the massive increase in NUWSS membership.  The reason being, “militancy drew publicity and those who could not, or would not join the militants turned to the NUWSS”. (www.spartacusschoolnet.co.uk) Which was always non-violent and had announced its intention to continue its ancient policy of campaigning for the vote using purely constitutional means.  However, what the non-militant suffragists did do, was in effect exploit the opening the WSPU had made.  Deploring militancy, they used it to argue according to Morgan (1975) “for the necessity of suffrage to prevent a bad situation becoming worse.”(p.161)

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The Pankhursts understood the English system rather well, “they knew that to make progress they had to arouse public opinion and make people interested in the question.”  Heckling politicians and a willingness to go to prison became key tactics in the WSPU campaign to force the Government to give women the vote.

The founder of the WSPU sprang from a long line of male political activists.

She was the granddaughter of a man who had demonstrated at Peterloo, daughter of a radical cotton manufacturer, and wife of a left wing lawyer.  As a child she had been

encouraged to think for herself and be different.  When she married Dr Richard Pankhurst he gave her just ...

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