Depth Four: WSPU

When did Emmeline Pankhurst form the WSPU?

1903

Who were the original working class speakers of the WSPU?

• Billington-Greig

• Annie Kenney

• Hannah Mitchess

When was the first ‘official’ act of militancy?

1st of May, 1905

What was the first ‘official’ act of militancy?

Protest outside Westminster Abbey

When do historians argue WSPU militancy began?

October 1905

What began WSPU militancy, according to historians?

When Christabel and Annie interrupted a Liberal political rally and assaulted police officers, resulting in their arrest for refusing the pay the fine

Over what years did phase one of the WSPU span?

1903-1908

Over what years did phase two of the WSPU span?

1908-1910

Over what years did phase three of the WSPU span?

1910-1914

How was the WSPU run?

Run by an unelected central committee which was the cause of much discontent within the organisation

How many members of the WSPU were there in 1905?

30

What were the main WSPU factors used 1903-1905?

The same as the NUWSS, pamphleting, meetings, and petitioning

When was the term suffragette first used by the Daily Mail?

1906

How did the suffragettes political power change in 1906?

• Banned from attending Liberal Party meetings unless they had a signed ticket

• Government ministers would no longer meet with WSPU delegations

• WSPU banned form holding public meetings

Who started contributing significantly financially to the WSPU in 1906?

Emmeline and Fredrick Pethwick-Lawrence (Emmeline was the WSPU treasurer)

Where did the WSPU HQ move to in 1906?

London

Who won the 1906 general election? +impact?

The Liberal Party, Henry Campbell-Bannerman, clamped down on militancy

How did militancy change 1906-07?

Massively increased, women chained themselves to railings on Downing Street and statues in the HoP Central Lobby, WSPU members marched into the HoC waving flags and making speeches

When was the ‘mud march, and what was it?

February 9th, 1907

NUWSS+WSPU had 3000+ women march from Hyde Park to the Strand, Exeter Hall, where a meeting was held and Millicent Fawcett and others spoke

Where was the first ‘Women’s Parliament’ hosted in 1907?

Caxton Hall

How many suffragettes were arrested after the first women’s Parl 1907 on the march the Westminster?

38 inc Sylvia+Christabel

Why did the WSPU split in 1907?

Emmeline+Christabel stopped supporting the Labour Party

What was the impact of the 1907 split?

• WSPU became more MC

• WSPU changed from votes for women to votes for taxpaying women

• Billington-Greig failed to make the WSPU more democratic so left to form the Women’s Freedom League, taking 20% of WSPU members with her

When was the WSPU’s votes for women’s journal first published?

1907

Who did what on the 30th of June 1908?

Mary Leigh and Edith New threw stones at the windows of 10 Downing Street

What happened on the 29th of June 1908?

Emmeline+8 others went to the HoC and attacked police

Who established the Women’s National Anti-Suffrage League in 1908?

Mrs Humphrey-Ward

What happened on the 24th of June 1909?

Dunlop’s hunger strike, 91 hours

When did the government introduce forcible feeding?

September 1909

Why was militancy suspended in 1910?

Conciliation Committee multi-party group made another (failed) Private Member Bill for about one million women to gain the vote

What was the circulation of the ‘Votes for Women’ Journal in 1910?

40,000

What event was on the 18th of November 1910?

Black Friday

How many women went to HoC on Black Friday to protest the failure of the Conciliation Bill?

300

Who attacked the women on Black Friday?

East London police

Who made the Men’s League for Opposing Women’s suffrage?

Lord Curzon and Lord Cromer

When was the Men’s League for Opposing Women’s Suffrage established?

1909

How many branches did the Men’s League for Opposing Women’s Suffrage have in 1909?

97

When was the first act of arson committed by the WSPU?

December 1911

Who committed the first act of arson?

Davison

Who proposed the 1909 Suffrage Bill to enfranchise some men and women?

Liberal MP Geoffrey Howard

What happned with the 1911 Conciliation Bill?

Held up by Parliament, again, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer suggested a male franchise bill 20th November

What happened on the 21st of November 1911?

In response to the second failed CB, windows of the home office, war office, foreign office, board of education, board of trade, daily mail were smashed

How many were arrested on the 21st of Novemeber 1911?

200+

In 1911, how many branches of the WSPU were there in London?

64

In 1911 how many WSPU branches were there excluding London?

58

What happened in 1912 when Christabel went anti men?

Pethwick-Lawrences expelled from the WSPU

When did police raids see the seizure of the WSPU HQ and assets?

1912

When was the third CB defeated? +response?

March 1912, mass window smashing

WHat happened on March the 4th, 1912?

Pethwick-Lawrences and Emmeline arrested for nine months

When did Christabel flee for France?

1912

What happened on the 19th of June 1912?

Mass hunger strikes (not including Emmeline+P-Ls) caused the 1913 government to cjange strategy

When were the Cat and Mouse Acts, and the Temporary Discharge for Poor Health Act?

1913

What was the state of the WSPU in 1913?

Income declining, more members leaving, more WSPU splits as Christabel become increasingly autocratic

What date was the Epson Derby at which Emily Davison ran out infront of the King’s horse?

4th of June, 1913

When and what was ‘Slasher Mary’?

10th of March 1914, Mary Richardson slashed the ‘Rokeby Venus’ at the National Gallery

When did WW1 begin?

August 1914

When and why was Sylvia expelled from the WSPU?

January 1914, political differences, same year she set up ELFS

How many churches were attacked 1913-1914?

50+

Why did Adela immigrate to Australia in April 1914?

Emmeline convinced her to as she was afraid her socialist beliefs would damage the cause

Strengths of WSPU organisation?

Run in a very authoritarian, top—>down manner to prevent disagreements. Simultaneously local branches could enjoy autonomy

Weaknesses of WSPU organisation?

Tension rose between London WSPU and Provincial organisations at times, the dictatorial style caused splits (1907 Billington-Grieg)(1914 January Sylvia ELFS)

Strengths of WSPU membership?

No formal membership, militancy boosted numbers from the ‘votes for women’ journal (over 40,000 by 1910). 122 branches by 1911. Wealthy members donated funds.

Weaknesses of WSPU membership?

Group became a fashionable, elitist, London centric movement dominated by wealthy socialites-uncomfortable for many WC members.

Strengths of WSPU leadership?

Leaders from mostly affluent MC families, married to the wealthy (respectable?)

Emmeline+Christabel driven, inspirational, adored, ruthless leaders.

Recruited WC Annie Kenney

Weaknesses of WSPU leadership?

Criticised for being elitist, inability to compromise led to splits

Strengths of WSPU methods?

‘Deeds not words’ militancy began 1905 and increased after 1910, the group wanted to enrage government, arrests of the socially elite and WC inspired sympathy, propaganda

Weaknesses of WSPU methods?

Militancy had a negative impact, led to resentment, decline in public support, caused the demoralising Cat and Mouse Act, sparked debates about law and order

Strengths of WSPU unity?

Leaders and heroic actions of Davison provided inspiration and moulded the WSPU into an effective political force, keeping the issue alive

Weaknesses of WSPU unity?

1912, Christabel’s anti-male policy led to the expulsion of the P-Ls, Sylvia expelled 1914, Emmeline’s constant imprisonments undermined the group