Suffragettes vs Suffragists: Did violent protest get women the vote?

Channel 4 News

8 Feb 201806:33

Summary

TLDRDuring 1912-1913, women's suffrage activists escalated to serious violence, including bombings and arson, causing public alarm. Despite political resistance, by 1910, most MPs supported women's voting rights. The outbreak of WWI provided an opportunity for Emmeline Pankhurst to halt the increasingly violent campaign. Post-war, the government recognized the need for women's enfranchisement, leading to the 1918 Representation of the People Act, which granted voting rights to women over 30 who met certain property qualifications.

Takeaways

💥 Women engaged in serious violence during 1912-1913, including bombing campaigns and attacks on homes.
🏛️ The political inaction of the time, particularly by the liberal and conservative parties, led to frustration and escalated actions within the suffrage movement.
🗳️ By 1910, most MPs were open to the idea of women's parliamentary franchise, but were hesitant due to concerns about their own political survival.
🔪 Members of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) attacked political figures, including an incident where they threw a hatchet at John Redmond.
🌎 The outbreak of World War I in 1914 provided an opportunity for Emmeline Pankhurst to halt the increasingly violent campaign, as it was reaching a dead end.
👥 The suffrage movement was diverse, with a range of activists and tactics, some of which were extreme and uncomfortable.
🎖️ The return of young men from the horrors of World War I, who had made the ultimate sacrifice, highlighted the injustice of their lack of voting rights.
🏡 Up to 40% of men did not have the right to vote in 1914 due to property qualifications, which was a point of contention.
👩‍💼 Women activists were effective in lobbying for the right to vote, ensuring their cause was discussed at Westminster.
👭 The suffrage movement was not a single story; it involved a rich diversity of activists, and there was fluidity between suffragettes and suffragists.
🌟 The right to vote was seen as a means to address everyday difficulties such as poor working conditions, low pay, and lack of healthcare.

Q & A

What was the nature of the violence engaged in by women during 1912-1913?
-Women engaged in serious violence such as bombing campaigns, blowing up timber yards, and attacking private homes, which caused significant alarm and concern at the time.
Was there a debate among historians about how to classify the violence of the women's suffrage movement?
-Yes, there is some disagreement among historians about whether the actions should be referred to as terrorist violence or terrorist activity.
What was the political climate regarding women's suffrage by 1910?
-By 1910, most MPs in the House of Commons had come around to the idea of women having the parliamentary franchise, but they were hesitant to implement it due to concerns about self-preservation and how women might vote.
Why were politicians hesitant to extend the vote to women?
-Politicians were worried that if they extended the vote to women, women might vote for the opposing party, thus threatening their own constituencies and power.
What was a notable violent act carried out by members of the Women's Social and Political Union?
-Three members of the Women's Social and Political Union threw a hatchet into a carriage, narrowly missing Irish nationalist leader John Redmond but injuring his ear, and later attempted to burn down a theater where he was attending an event.
How did the outbreak of World War I impact the women's suffrage movement?
-The outbreak of World War I provided an opportunity for Emmeline Pankhurst to halt the campaign, which was escalating into extreme violence, and to refocus efforts.
What was the significance of the First World War for the suffrage movement?
-The war highlighted the sacrifices made by young men and the injustice of their lack of voting rights, which helped to further the argument for women's suffrage.
What percentage of men did not have the right to vote in 1914?
-Up to 40% of men did not have the right to vote in 1914 because they did not own property and did not meet the property qualification.
How did the suffrage movement ensure that women's right to vote was discussed at Westminster?
-The suffrage movement was very effective in lobbying and ensuring that the discussions at Westminster included the right of women to vote.
What did the women's suffrage movement believe would improve if women had the right to vote?
-The movement believed that having the right to vote would alleviate everyday difficulties such as poor working conditions, low pay, and lack of healthcare, as these issues would be more likely to be addressed with women's representation in parliament.
How did the suffragettes and suffragists relate to each other during the movement?
-The suffragettes and suffragists knew each other, worked together, and there was fluid movement between the two groups. One could support both at different times, and there was no strict division between them.

Outlines

00:00

💥 Women's Suffrage and Violence

The paragraph discusses the escalation of violence by women during the suffrage movement between 1912-1913. It mentions serious acts of violence such as bombing campaigns, attacks on timber yards, and even targeting private homes and public spaces like post offices. The paragraph highlights the debate among historians about whether to classify these actions as terrorist violence. It also discusses the political climate of the time, where political parties were reluctant to extend voting rights to women due to fear of losing their constituencies. The violence was a response to this inaction. The narrative also includes specific instances of violence, such as an attack on John Redmond, and the eventual impact of World War I on the movement, which led to a cessation of violent tactics. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the extreme tactics used during the movement and the complex nature of social protest.

05:02

🌟 Diversity in the Suffrage Movement

This paragraph focuses on the diversity of activists within the suffrage movement and the factors that united them. It discusses the belief that gaining the right to vote would improve the everyday lives of women, addressing issues such as poor working conditions, low pay, and lack of healthcare. The paragraph also emphasizes the fluidity between different factions within the movement, such as suffragists and suffragettes, and the collaborative nature of their work. It concludes by reminding us to be mindful of the diverse stories within the movement and not to oversimplify it into polarized groups.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Suffrage Movement

The suffrage movement refers to a social and political campaign advocating for women's right to vote. In the video, it is highlighted as the central theme, with the narrative focusing on the escalating tactics used by women in the early 20th century to gain the right to vote. The movement is portrayed as diverse, involving various forms of protest, including peaceful and violent means.

💡Violence

Violence, in the context of the video, refers to the physical force used by some women in the suffrage movement to further their cause. It is mentioned that women engaged in serious acts such as bombing campaigns and attacks on homes, which were a significant escalation in their protest methods and caused public alarm.

💡Terrorism

Terrorism is a term that describes acts of violence intended to create fear; it's used in the video to discuss the debate among historians about whether certain violent acts by suffragists should be classified as terrorist activities. The script mentions bombings and attacks, which were intended to instill fear and force political change.

💡Political Parties

Political parties are organized groups that seek to influence government policy. The video discusses the failure of political parties, particularly the liberal and conservative parties, to extend voting rights to women, leading to increased frustration among suffragists and contributing to the rise in violent protests.

💡Franchise

The franchise, in this context, refers to the right to vote in political elections. The video script discusses the growing support among MPs for extending the franchise to women by the 1910s, yet the reluctance due to concerns over how women might vote and the potential impact on their political power.

💡Self-Preservation

Self-preservation in the video refers to the MPs' desire to maintain their political power and constituencies. They were hesitant to extend the vote to women for fear that women might vote for opposing parties, thus threatening their political survival.

💡World War I

World War I is mentioned as a turning point for the suffrage movement. The outbreak of war provided an opportunity for Emmeline Pankhurst to halt the campaign, which was becoming increasingly violent. The war also shifted public and political focus, creating a context where the rights of returning soldiers were contrasted with the lack of voting rights for women.

💡Emmeline Pankhurst

Emmeline Pankhurst is a key figure in the suffrage movement, mentioned in the video as someone who led the campaign for women's rights. Her decision to stop the campaign during World War I is highlighted as a strategic move, reflecting the complexities and evolving tactics within the movement.

💡Representation

Representation in the video refers to the belief that having women in political office would lead to changes in policies affecting women's lives. Suffragists argued that access to political citizenship, including the right to vote, would alleviate issues like poor working conditions, low pay, and lack of healthcare.

💡Suffragettes vs Suffragists

The video script explains the distinction between suffragettes, who often employed militant tactics, and suffragists, who advocated for more peaceful means. However, it also notes the fluidity between the two groups, indicating that individuals could support both approaches at different times, reflecting the diversity within the movement.

💡Property Qualification

Property qualification was a requirement for men to be able to vote, as mentioned in the video. It is used to illustrate the existing inequalities in voting rights, where even some men were denied the vote based on their economic status, highlighting the broader context of the suffrage movement's fight for equal rights.

Highlights

Women engaged in serious violence such as bombing campaigns during 1912-1913.

Timber yards were blown up and homes were attacked.

Disagreement among historians if these actions should be called terrorist violence.

Political parties failed to extend the franchise to women, leading to frustration.

By 1910, most MPs were open to the idea of women's parliamentary franchise.

MPs were worried about women voting for the opposing party.

Three members of the Women's Social and Political Union attacked John Redmond.

The First World War provided an opportunity for Emmeline Pankhurst to halt the campaign.

The suffrage movement used extreme tactics that may be uncomfortable to acknowledge.

Young men returning from WWI should have the right to vote, as they sacrificed for their country.

40% of men did not have the right to vote in 1914 due to property qualifications.

Women's suffrage activists were effective in ensuring the right to vote was discussed in Westminster.

The suffrage movement was not a single story but involved a diversity of activists.

Women saw voting rights as a way to alleviate everyday difficulties like poor working conditions and low pay.

Suffragettes and suffragists knew each other, worked together, and there was fluidity between the two groups.

Remembering the history of the movement requires careful acknowledgment of the diverse groups involved.