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Support gained
The Liberal Prime Minister, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, supported votes for women and he won the election. They also gained support from some of the MPs, but they were divided. I think this made it more likely that they would get the vote because an increasing number of ministers agreed with the suffragettes, which made it more likely that a bill concerning women's suffrage would be passed. -
NUWSS and WSPU show differences
NUWSS continued their campaign of petitions and meetings. WSPU members protested in the House of Commons. They were arrested and sent to prison. The WSPU were tired of the NUWSS, and took a much more militant approach. This meant the movement gained a lot of attention in the media, and therefore it was likely women would eventually get the vote, However, it gave the suffragettes a bad reputation. Overall, I believe this part of the suffragette campaign did actually help women get the vote. -
The mud march
The NUWSS organised a procession in London. The weather was awful, thus the name 'The Mud March,' but over 3,000 women participated. This march was featured in numerous magazines, thus helping put the suffragettes in the public eye. and ensured people looked at the movement in a more respectable manner, something the less peaceable tactics of the WSPU had failed to achieve. Marches such as this became a key feature of the suffragists campaign, and it helped women to get the vote. -
Mass rally
300,000 to 500,000 activists attend mass rally in Hyde park, with supporters from all over the country attending. However, they are ignored by the liberal Prime Minister (Herbert Asquith), so the suffragettes throw stones 0with written pleas tied around them- at the windows of 10 Downing Street. Some supporters even go as far as to chain themselves to railings. I don't believ this helped the suffragettes to gain the vote because it showed them as being violent, and perhaps irrational. -
Black Friday
Asquith agrees to work with the NUWSS and the WSPU so the WSPU call off their violent protests. A Conciliation Bill is put forward successfully, but Asquith then stalls and doesn't go through with it. The WSPU then protest, and this turns into 'Black Friday', a fight with the police resulting in many women being physically and sexually abused. I don't think this helped them to get the vote as it shows the power the Prime Minister has over any Bills, even if they get enough votes to pass. -
Window smashing campaign
Throughout 1912 the WSPU carry out a massive campaign of window smashing in protest. The WSPU 'base' was raided and Christabel Pankhurst fled to Paris. Some of the WSPU leaders were arrested and there were hunger strikes in prisons across the country as the suffragettes try to gain political status. The authorities responded with force feeding. I think this event helped to enforce the fact that women would eventually get the vote, but also made them unpopular with some of the public. -
Violent campaigns
The WSPU bombed and burnt down buildings; destroyed letters in letter boxes and burnt turf at race courses. This was very detrimental to their efforts of getting the vote because it gave many a reason to hate them, and to disallow them the vote. -
Emily Davison
Emily Davison was killed by the Kings horse at the Derby. Her funeral was made to be a huge propaganda event by the WSPU, disregarding whether or not she wanted to die. However suicidal it seemed, she did have a return train ticket and an invitation to a dance. I believe this did make women more likely to get the vote as a death helps encourage people to take notice, and thousands watched her funeral procession. It was reported on in many newspapers, drawing attention to the cause. -
Women's pilgrimage
Members from the NUWSS made their way from all over the country on a journey to march in London for the vote. They raised thousands of pounds on the way, but were also met with disrespectful remarks such as 'brazen hussy.' When 50,000 arrived in Hyde Park on 26th July even the Times gave it a favourable report. This did help the women to get the vote because it showed they were determined, and gave it positive media attention whilst it had previously been mostly negative. -
War
In 1914 the violence of the WSPU increased. Public opinion was firmly against the suffragettes, and women were even banned from art galleries! When the First World War broke out the WSPU ceased all activities and supported the war effort, and the government released all WSPU prisoners. The NUWSS continued to keep the pressure on Parliament about the vote by holding meetings and getting petitions signed. This didn't help the suffragettes gain the vote as they had less attention from parliament.
