Emmeline Pankhurst Hartford Speech November 1913 | Suffragettes and Votes for Women

Summary

In this impassioned speech, a speaker compares the women’s fight for enfranchisement to a civil war, likening their struggle to that of men facing injustice in Hartford. The speaker draws parallels to historical revolutions, arguing that women, like their predecessors, are willing to face hardships for the right to vote. They stress the importance of making their voices heard and their demand for representation, suggesting that women will not be ignored any longer. The speech asserts that the fight will continue until women are either granted the vote or forced to face the harshest of consequences.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker compares the women's fight for the vote to a civil war, illustrating the struggle for women's rights as an essential battle.
• 😀 Men of Hartford, who had grievances, would usually address them through elections, but women were not granted such a right, creating a system of unjust governance.
• 😀 The refusal of the legislature to listen to grievances prompts the question of how to remove the grievance when voting is not an option for women.
• 😀 Historical examples, like the American Revolution and the Boston Tea Party, are invoked to highlight the power of protest when all other avenues have been exhausted.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of militancy in advancing women's rights, accepting the label of militant to press for women's enfranchisement.
• 😀 Women are depicted as having permeated every class in society, suggesting that their fight for suffrage is widespread and supported across social classes.
• 😀 The women's civil war is framed as an unstoppable force that cannot be located or stopped, reflecting the movement's growing momentum and influence.
• 😀 The speaker argues that the British government has been forced into a position where they must choose between granting women the vote or facing continued resistance.
• 😀 Historical struggles for freedom, like the American Revolution and Civil War, are referenced as precedents for the eventual success of the women's suffrage movement.
• 😀 The speaker declares that the women's movement will not resort to sacrificing human life but will force those in power to choose between freedom for women or their destruction.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speaker's message?

The main theme of the speaker's message is the fight for women's suffrage, drawing parallels with historical civil wars and revolutionary movements. The speaker emphasizes the determination of women to gain political representation and their willingness to challenge the status quo.

How does the speaker compare the women's suffrage movement to the American Revolution?

The speaker compares the women's suffrage movement to the American Revolution by highlighting how both struggles were driven by the need for representation and fairness. Just as the American colonists fought for independence due to lack of representation, the women are fighting for the right to be heard in politics.

What historical event does the speaker reference to illustrate the lengths people have gone to achieve political change?

The speaker references the American Revolution and the Civil War as examples of historical events where people sacrificed human lives to achieve political change—specifically the independence of the United States and the emancipation of slaves.

What does the speaker mean by 'you have to make more noise than anybody else'?

The speaker is emphasizing that to gain attention and make progress in a cause, such as women's suffrage, activists must be persistent, loud, and visible. It suggests that silence or passive approaches won't lead to change.

What role does the concept of 'sacrifice' play in the speaker's argument?

Sacrifice is a central concept in the speaker's argument. The speaker acknowledges the sacrifices made by others in history for political change and implies that women, too, must be prepared for personal sacrifice, though they are determined not to sacrifice themselves but to force their opposition to choose between freedom or death.

How does the speaker view the government's response to the women's suffrage movement?

The speaker sees the government's response as obstinate and dismissive, similar to how the British government initially ignored the grievances of American colonists. The women, therefore, feel forced to escalate their tactics to gain attention.

What is the significance of the Boston Tea Party mentioned in the speech?

The Boston Tea Party is used as a historical reference to demonstrate how people, when faced with an unresponsive government, resorted to bold and direct actions to make their grievances known, setting a precedent for civil disobedience in the fight for rights.

What does the speaker mean by 'we are no longer to be ignored by the politicians'?

This statement signifies that the women's suffrage movement is demanding recognition and respect from the political establishment. They refuse to remain marginalized and are determined to force the issue of women’s political rights into the public consciousness.

What are the two 'evils' the men of Hartford face in the script, and how does this relate to the women's movement?

The two 'evils' faced by the men of Hartford are either enduring an unjust situation indefinitely or rising up against it. This mirrors the choice faced by women in the suffrage movement—either submit to their lack of political rights or fight for them.

How does the speaker distinguish the women's civil war from traditional conflicts?

The speaker asserts that the women's civil war is different because it cannot be physically located or stopped. It permeates all classes and is a struggle for political recognition and rights, rather than a conventional military conflict.