The government and changes in the campaigns 1910 - 1914

What are private Members bills?

An MP can introduce a bill about a topic which he or she thinks is important. Usually stand little chance of becoming law unless government picks up the issue.

Bills for giving women the vote were regularly put before parliament.

Why did the government not pick up these Private Members Bills for womens votes?

Asquith’s liberal government was focused on introducing new social reforms, and Asquith feared giving women the vote on same basis as men would impact their votes.

What happened in 1910?

• Another Private Members Bill to give women the vote was introduced and Asquith refused.

• Suffragettes were furious and called for an anti-Liberal demonstration.

• Friday November 18, fighting broke out with police in London.

What happened in 1911?

• Another bill to give votes to women won support when Asquith suddenly announced he would bring in a bill to give all men suffrage.

• He suggested an amendment be made to include some women on the same basis as men - rich widows and unmarried widows would get vote.

How did Asquith’s cynical approach cause dismay?

• Suffragettes felt they had been out-manoeuvred and betrayed by Liberal government. They stepped up there violent actions.

What sort of actions did the Suffragettes take after Asquith’s betrayal?

• Window smashing raids across Britain, on shops and government buildings.

• Arson attacks on postboxes, theatres, MP houses.

• Some extremes were bombs outside banks and churches.

What happened in 1912?

• Another bill for votes for women was defeated by just 14 votes.

• Violence escalated further.

How come increase in militant action after 1910 resulted in many suffragettes being sent to prison?

• Prisoners had privileges such as frequent visits and freedom to write books and articles. Suffragettes denied this.

• Suffragettes began to use hunger strikes in protest. Prison authorities began to force feed through a tube. This caused intense pain and endangered women’s health.

  Emmeline Pankhurst went on hunger strike in Holloway prison, and was horrified by screams of women during force feeding.

Who was Lady Constance Lytton?

• Endured force feeding at Walton gaol.

• She suspected that working class suffragettes were treated more harshly than the upper class like herself.

• Tested her theory by dressing and naming herself as a working class woman, Jane Warton.

How was Lytton force fed?

• Doctor forced apart her teeth with a steel implement.

• Fixed a steel gag in her mouth.

• Inserted a 4 foot tube down her throat and poured liquid food down it.

• She was instantly sick, but they fed her again.

What was the Prisoners Temporary Discharge for Ill Health Act 1913?

Prisoners on hunger strike were released as soon as they became ill, then re-imprisoned once recovered.

Also known as cat and mouse act.

What occurred in 1913?

Emily Wilding Davison, previously studied at Oxford, became committed to suffrage movement.

At the famous Derby race at Epsom, Emily ducked under the rails and ran in front of the King’s horse. She was thrown to the ground. She died from injuries 4 days later.

Most think she was trying to attach suffragette colours to the horse.

How did Emmeline Pankhurst react to Emily Davison’s sacrifice?

• Made her a martyr to the cause of female suffrage and her funeral a major event.

• Estimated 6000 women took place in the funeral service and more than 50,000 people turned out to watch the funeral.

What were people’s views on WSPU by 1913?

• people becoming hostile to idea of winning votes for women through violent tactics and support for WSPU was in decline.

• Many influential people were leaving, unwilling to put up with its undemocratic way Emmeline Pankhurst ran it.

What were views of the NUWSS by 1913?

It was flourishing. When Labour party decided to support votes for all men and women on an equal basis, the NUWSS abandoned its non-party policy and began supporting Labour party candidates at elections.

What was Emmeline Pankhurst’s response to war breaking out?

She said Britain needed support of all its civilians and persuaded WSPU to stop militant activities.

The hard work and resilience of women during the war granted women over 30 the vote in 1918.

When did women get the vote?

• women over 30 in 1918.

• all women over 21 in 1928.