ipl-logo

Why Did The Campaign For Women's Suffrage Become Militant Between 1903 And 1914

1790 Words8 Pages

Why did the campaign for women’s suffrage become militant between 1903 and 1914 and what, if anything, did this campaign achieve? The campaign for women's suffrage began in earnest in 1867, when Liberal MP John Stuart Mill, an influential thinker of classical liberalism, unsuccessfully attempted to amend the 1867 Reform Act. This piece of legislation enfranchised part of the urban male working class in England and Wales for the first time, but the amendment granting enfranchisement of all households, regardless of sex, was defeated by 194 votes to 73. The campaign to achieve improved rights for women continued in the late 19th century, but although some progress was made in areas of employment and education, attempts to achieve women’s suffrage …show more content…

Although the Third Reform Bill in 1880 was much more inclusive of women, it did not make it past the second reading in the House after it was shut down by Prime Minister William Gladstone. The Representation of the People Act 1884 (the Third Reform Act), established a uniform franchise throughout the country, but the act still completely excluded women, showing that attitudes were still slow to change even among their supporters. Women did, however, become more involved in politics after the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act 1883 against electoral corruption greatly reduced the spending power of parties in elections. This led many women to volunteer to hold functions and make speeches, mostly for the Conservatives, as they couldn't afford to pay men to do the same jobs. This led to an acceptance in some quarters that women had a political role to …show more content…

The aim was the ‘immediate enfranchisement’ of women with the slogan ‘deeds, not words’. As the Suffragettes embarked on a campaign of direct action, the effectiveness of the first acts of militancy in the movement encouraged them to continue on this path. In 1905 Christabel Pankurst and Annie Kennedy interrupted one of Churchill's election meetings in one of the first direct actions. They were forcibly removed and subsequently arrested for disturbing the peace. After refusing to pay the fine of 10 shillings they spent a week in jail. This incident gained more publicity than a whole year of peaceful protests using constitutional methods meaning militant tactics now increased in their frequency and severity. There were public demonstrations, processions to parliament and the physical harassment of many prominent Liberals, leading to skirmishes with the police, arrests and severe punishments in the courts for minor offences. For example, Theresa Billington was imprisoned for two months for ringing the doorbell of Prime Minister Asquith’s house. The initial success in raising the profile of the movement was a major reason why it became more militant and why these tactics

Show More
Related
551 Words | 3 Pages

During the period of 1900 to 1920, Progressive Era reforms included women’s determination for suffrage, labor restrictions, and the Square Deal as means of bringing about reform at a national level; however, there were limitations stopping each reformer from gaining the desired change. There were countless women’s organization in existence that embraced the reform, which lead to the efforts for change. The National Women's Suffrage Organization, the General Federation of Women’s Club, and National Women’s Party are just a few among them. Elizabeth Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony, and other activists formed these organizations that raised public awareness and lobbied the government to grant women the right to vote. (H)

Read More
87 Words | 1 Pages

Ladies didn 't generally have the privilege to vote since women were viewed as lower than men. They weren 't permitted to vote since they were closed as uninformed. They additionally didn 't know much about legislative issues. To a few women were thought to be a laborer not a voter people felt that they don 't know anything about governmental issues. Subsequent to having a supporter for voting rights on their side like Abigail Adams.

Read More
527 Words | 3 Pages

Although they were unsuccessful in getting the vote, their failure led to the formation of a new, radical movement formed by Emmeline Pankhurst in 1903 called the Suffragette movement. This is evidence of the determination of both these movements as being a factor in getting women’s franchise. Source A sees suffragette Millicent Fawcett and the National Union of Women’s Suffrage as having been persuasive by drawing attention to the work of women in the war and playing a great part in getting Liberal leader Henry Asquith to grant a minority of women the vote. In 1918, 8.5 million females were enfranchised.

Read More
521 Words | 3 Pages

This angered many women, causing them to begin to hold conventions and rallies to gain suffrage. Many women began to “throw themselves into rebuilding their communities and families” because of their lack of rights and political abilities (Nashville Public Television). Many women actually believed that women should not gain the right to vote and were against the suffrage movement because they blamed women for how things ended up with their businesses. After these rallies were held people started to believe that women having political power wouldn't be that bad. Eventually in 1920 the 19th amendment stated “the right to vote could not be denied on the account of sex” (Anderson, “1920’s”).

Read More
427 Words | 2 Pages

Women used many different methods to earn the right to vote in the Women’s Suffrage Movement. One method women used to earn support is that they organized a parade in Washington, D.C., the same day the president was coming into town so that there was large crowds. Many of the people in the crowd were men who, along with drinking also disagreed with the right for women to vote. They began to yell then even throw objects at the women walking in the parade. Eventually, the police walked away giving the men the opportunity to attack.

Read More
709 Words | 3 Pages

Then In 1905 the first group of suffragettes were sent to prison, even though this was in Britain Australia was largely affected by this because the suffragettes in Australia did not want to let their country down like Britain did. Political

Read More
569 Words | 3 Pages

This essay will be supported by three reliable sources that highlight the achievements of the women’s suffrage movement. The women’s suffrage movement was successful in achieving its goal of granting women the right to vote. According to an article in The Guardian by Caroline Criado-Perez, the women’s suffrage movement was instrumental in securing the Representation of the People Act in 1918, which gave women over the age of 30 the right to vote. The article highlights the role of the suffragettes in achieving this milestone, noting that their militant tactics, such as hunger strikes and public demonstrations, helped to put pressure on the government to take action. The article also notes that the suffragettes were not the only women involved in the movement, with suffragists also playing a significant role in campaigning for women’s right to vote.

Read More
1360 Words | 6 Pages

Women Suffrage movement began more active after 1894. For example, “In New York City, Josephine Shaw Lowell and Mary Putnam Jacobi formed the Woman Municipal League." (Dubois, 189) This organization was primary focusing on the corruption of public. “By the early 1900s, moreover, the spirit of political reform in New York City spread beyond the elite.”

Read More
1168 Words | 5 Pages

Women Suffrage movement began more active after 1894. For example, “In New York City, Josephine Shaw Lowell and Mary Putnam Jacobi formed the Woman Municipal League." (Dubois, 189) This organization was primary focusing on the corruption of public. “By the early 1900s, moreover, the spirit of political reform in New York City spread beyond the elite.”

Read More
520 Words | 3 Pages

The importance of the “Opposition to Suffrage of 1911”. The movement of women who opposed that women didn’t have the right to vote. Back before the movement became famous both women and men didn’t have thought of women having a vote for anything. Women would just stay home and take care of their homes and children. They didn’t have time to vote and stay updated with political times.

Read More
1063 Words | 5 Pages

Although Mill was very keen on women being giving the rights to vote he was not taken by the idea of women become independent from their husbands. It is well known that the suffragettes contributed a great deal in which women were given the rights to vote worldwide. The suffragette movement didn’t begin to take place up until 1890. There were seventeen individual groups who came together all supporting the women’s suffrage. This included the London Society for Women’s Suffrage, Manchester Society for Women’s Suffrage and the Central Committee for Women’s Suffrage.

Read More
888 Words | 4 Pages

The women’s suffrage movement was a very difficult time for these women at the time. On June 20, 1908 is when the suffrage day happened and everyone was there including the women who wanted their right to vote. The women went through some difficulties to get their right to vote. Speeches were being given that day. Four years later a march happened.

Read More
1860 Words | 8 Pages

It was an enormous social change for women to take part in public decision making, and gave them a voice to abolish unjust laws. The suffragettes in Australia argued that they were intelligent enough to vote, that it was unfair for them to be taxed without representation, and that they were equal to men therefore should have equal rights. In contrary, the suffragettes’ opponents alleged that women already had indirect power through manipulating their husbands and father’s voting choices at the ballot box, that women were equal but different and that women could not fulfil the duties of citizenship therefore should not vote. The suffragettes encouraged people to sign their petition, as well as held meeting and debates in order to gain supporters. Women in Australia used civil methods of protest, and didn’t adapt the more radical methods used by suffragettes in other countries.

Read More
922 Words | 4 Pages

Thank you, Millicent Fawcett, for giving me the opportunity to speak on behalf of the National Union of Women 's Suffrage Societies which Millicent leads with grace and dignity. Some of you may know me and some of you may not, but I am Clementine Forest one of 3000 women suffragists who has marched here today, the largest march ever occurred, for the cause of women 's suffrage. I am here to represent and express the importance of women receiving the right to vote. Unfortunately, the London weather wasn 't on our side with the presence of heavy rain throughout our march from Hyde Park to Exter Hall, but this reinforces that nothing will stop women from protesting their right to vote. As you know we have been gathered together as one, today on February 9th, 1907, the day in which Parliament is open once again for the coming year.

Read More
1449 Words | 6 Pages

Suffrages chose to take a more militant style approach to capture the attention of the government in a way that could not be ignored. They became a public nuisance in terms of publically demonstrating their frustration through actions rather than words. In “Freedom or Death,” Pankhurst speaks on behalf of the suffrage women, “we were called militant, and were quite willing to accept the name. We were determined to press this question of the enfranchisement of women to the point where we were no longer ignored by the politicians” (Pankhurst, 2). Though militant had a negative association, the suffragists prided their actions fighting for an honourable peace.

Read More

More about Why Did The Campaign For Women's Suffrage Become Militant Between 1903 And 1914

Related Topics

Open Document