Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
How did British women make progress towards full political rights?
Throughout the nineteenth century, women played a prominent role in the fight for political rights. In the second half of the century, three major acts were passed extending political rights - but not to women. Women made only limited progress towards being able to control their own affairs and they did not have the right to vote.
Campaigns for equal voting rights did not become effective until the end of the century, when Millicent Fawcett formed the moderate
National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. The NUWSS was based on a network of local suffrage groups, many of which had been created since the 1860s, when they had attempted to get women included in the terms of the 1867 Reform Act. They lobbied politicians, staged demonstrations and campaigned to get the support of the public for their cause.
The campaign gained an even higher profile through the actions of the Women's Social and
Political Union, formed in 1903 by mother and daughter Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst.
The WSPU disrupted public meetings, broke shop windows, set post boxes and buildings on fire and staged noisy protests. When they were arrested, they went on hunger strikes.
The protesters often clashed with police and with the public. For example, at demonstrations outside the Houses of Parliament on 18 and 23 November 1910, there was violence and arrests. The police were accused of behaving with unnecessary brutality and the 18th became known as Black Friday. In 1913, the campaign stepped up and Emmeline Pankhurst was imprisoned for three years for her part in planning protests. On 4 June, Emily Davison was killed at the Epsom Derby.
However, protests were put aside as the women joined in the war effort between 1914-18. In
1918, women were able to vote in general elections for the first time.
Find out more from these original sources:
Force-feeding of suffragettes, 1909
Demonstrations at
Parliament, 1910
Article called 'Sensational
Derby', 1913
Extract on what happened to Emily Davison
Police report on the
Derby incident, 1913 http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 1

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
A leaflet describing the force-feeding of suffragettes at Walton Gaol, Liverpool,
December 1909
(Catalogue ref: HO 144/1052/187234)
1a 1b 1c
As you study the source, ask yourself:
1.
What happened to these suffragettes when they were imprisoned?
2.
How does the author of the leaflet show anger at how the suffragettes have been treated?
(Look at the words used to describe these events.)
3.
Why are electors (voters) being encouraged to vote against the Liberal candidate in the next election?
4.
Does this leaflet show us anything about the organisation the suffragette movement?
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 1

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 2

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 3

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 4

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
A photo taken outside Parliament on 18 November and a handbill publicising a demonstration at Parliament on 22 November 1910
(Catalogue ref: a. COPY 1/551, Alpha Picture Library; b. HO 144/1106/200455)
2a 2b
As you study the source, ask yourself:
1.
What do you think had happened just before the photo was taken?
2.
The man in the top hat is Dr Herbert Mills, the husband of the woman on the ground,
Ernestine Mills. What do you think he is trying to do?
3.
Source 2b advertises a second demonstration outside Parliament. What does it mean by inviting people to "come and umpire" in the contest of "women versus the government"?
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 1

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 2

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 3

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
An article called "Sensational Derby" in the Morning Post, 5 June 1913
(Catalogue ref: HO 144/1150/210696)
3a 3b 3c
3d
As you study the source, ask yourself:
1.
What sort of person was Emily Davison?
2.
How committed was she to the suffrage movement?
3.
What is the attitude of the newspaper towards Emily Davison? (Consider the words used to describe these events and the general tone of the article.)
4.
What was the attitude of the spectators, as reported by the newspaper? http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 1

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 2

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 3

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 4

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 5

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
An account by Mary Richardson, a suffragette, who saw what happened to Emily
Davison
(Mary Raleigh Richardson, 'Laugh a Defiance: an autobiography', George Weidenfeld &
Nicolson: an imprint of The Orion Publishing Group, London, 1953) Nicolson: an imprint of The Orion Publishing Group, London, 1953)
As you study the source, ask yourself:
1.
What was the author doing at Derby day?
2.
Why was she surprised to see Emily Davison there?
3.
How does this version of events differ from the account given in source 3?
4.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this evidence when trying to find out what really happened?
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 1

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 2

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
Police report on the incident at the Derby, 1913
(Catalogue ref: MEPO 2/1551)
5a 5b
As you study the source, ask yourself:
1.
How reliable or unreliable do you think this source is as evidence?
2.
What new information about the events of the 1913 Derby does this source provide?
3.
Does this confirm or challenge the views in sources 3 and 4?
4.
What do you think Emily Davison was trying to do?
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 1

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 2

Learning Curve m l t b o I == m l i f q f ` p == C == m o l q b p q
Suffragettes
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/
Page 3