14.2.3

The Escalation of the Suffragettes (WSPU)

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The Escalation of the Suffragettes (WSPU)

The suffragettes began to escalate their actions in 1908 and went even further with violence in 1912 and 1913.

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Expansion of the WSPU

  • When Christabel was released from prison, a crowd of 2,000 people turned up.
    • The suffragettes realised militancy gave them publicity and got suffragettes in the news.
  • In 1906, the WSPU headquarters moved from Manchester to London.
    • The majority of WSPU members were middle and upper class.
    • Men were not allowed to join.
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Procession and imprisonment

  • In 1908, the suffragettes organised a procession in London.
    • The Prime Minister H. H. Asquith did not do anything.
    • In response, suffragettes smashed windows in Downing Street and chained themselves to railings.
  • The suffragettes were sent to prison.
    • In prison, suffragettes demanded to be treated as political prisoners.
    • The suffragettes went on hunger strike in prison.
    • The government started force-feeding the suffragettes to avoid dead women on their hands.
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Increase of violence

  • From 1912 to 1913, suffragette violence increased.
    • Buildings were bombed.
    • Letterboxes were destroyed.
    • There were massive window-smashing campaigns.
    • Emily Davison died after running out in front of the King's horse at the Epsom Derby.
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Cat and Mouse Act

  • In 1913, the Government introduced the Cat and Mouse Act.
    • Women were allowed to go on hunger strike in prison.
    • Women were released when they became ill from hunger strike and then re-arrested when they had recovered.

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1The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

1.1Anglo-Saxon England

1.2The Contest for the English Throne

1.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

1.4King John

1.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

1.6The Black Death

2Worldviews

3The Empire of Mali

4The Renaissance & Reformations, 1500-1598 AD

5The British Empire, 1583-1960 AD

6The Peasants' Revolt

7Religion in the Middle Ages

8Slavery, 1619-1833 AD

9The English Civil War, 1642-1660

10The Industrial Revolution, 1750-1840

11US Independence, 1775-1783

12The French Revolution, 1789-1815

13The British Empire, 1857–1930

14Suffrage

15World War 1, 1914-1918

16The Inter-War Years, 1919-1939

17World War 2, 1939-1945

18The Cold War, 1947-1962

19Civil Rights in the USA, 1954-1975

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