{"id":4169,"date":"2013-07-11T20:47:55","date_gmt":"2013-07-12T00:47:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/guidedhistory\/?page_id=4169"},"modified":"2013-08-05T13:23:13","modified_gmt":"2013-08-05T17:23:13","slug":"monica-kramer","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/guidedhistory\/moderneurope\/monica-kramer\/","title":{"rendered":"Women’s Suffrage at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century"},"content":{"rendered":"

Suffragists and Suffragettes<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Monica Kramer<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Beginning in the mid-19th<\/sup> century, feminist ideas began to sprout across Europe as women began to question their roles in society, most prominently in industrialized countries like England and France.\u00a0 For many of these women, they demanded the right to participate in elections, which was not strictly prohibited in England until 1832.\u00a0 But the fight to earn suffrage would last many decades and result in numerous societies with varying goals and methods.\u00a0 An early champion of women\u2019s suffrage, John Stuart Mill introduced a bill in Parliament that would grant women\u2019s suffrage over sixty years before full suffrage was granted. However, the bill was defeated 194-74.\u00a0 Despite continual defeat of similar bills, the women\u2019s suffrage movement began to gain power and membership throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century as various women\u2019s groups formed to fight for suffrage.\u00a0 But as time wore on, some suffragist began to become frustrated and began pursuing more militant tactics, eventually splitting the suffrage movement into two major groups: suffragists and suffragettes.<\/p>\n

Millicent Fawcett speaking to a group at Hyde Park in 1913, http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/lifeandstyle\/2008\/dec\/07\/women-equality-rights-feminism<\/p><\/div>\n

This guide focuses on the early twentieth century suffrage movement as a section of the movement moved towards militancy. While both groups wanted roughly the same outcomes, they employed extremely different tactics.\u00a0 Although the militant wing of the movement became much more visible in the public sphere, it remained relatively small in size compared to the suffragists who engaged in peaceful and legal polices to affect change.\u00a0 Some of the peaceable suffragists believed that militant policies would detract rather than add to the following of women\u2019s suffrage. Even though the goal of the movement was eventually reached, a major rift occurred in the movement that majorly effected their public image even though it on involved a minority of the members.<\/p>\n

Background on the Women\u2019s Suffrage Movement in England<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Rover, Constance. Women’s Suffrage and Party Politics in Britain, 1866-1914<\/i>. London: Routledge & K. Paul, 1967.<\/p>\n

This book explores the relationship between the women\u2019s suffrage movement and the dominant parties in England. Both the Conservative and Liberal parties were open to women\u2019s suffrage, and the women\u2019s lobby actively supported pro-suffrage candidates. Rover also lays out the arguments used to promote women\u2019s suffrage and the policies of the different societies.<\/p>\n

Tickner, Lisa. The Spectacle of Women: Imagery of the Suffrage Campaign, 1907-14<\/i>. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988.<\/p>\n

This book explores that various forms of visual propaganda used by suffragists in the fight for the vote. Covering both the use of spectacle and the representation of women in Edwardian Britain, Lisa Tickner examines the different forms of propaganda used to gain public support for their movement and gain more members.\u00a0 The many reproductions of posters and other artwork show the various tactics and depictions of women, often focusing on their helpless state under the law and illustrations of well-educated, middle-class women.\u00a0 This text also discusses the artwork and beliefs of the anti-suffragist movement.<\/p>\n

Wingerden, Sophia A.. The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Britain, 1866-1928<\/i>. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999.<\/p>\n

This book provides a good overview of the entire suffrage movement, including a summary of the main suffrage groups and societies. The book also contains a timeline listing important events in the development of women\u2019s suffrage. Beginning with John Stuart Mill in the 1860s, this text chronicles over fifty years of police brutality, anti-suffragism, internal divisions and continual defeats that characterized the women\u2019s fight for the vote in England.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/b>

NUWSS leaflet circa 1913, http:\/\/www.bl.uk\/learning\/ citizenship\/campaign\/myh\/branding\/gallery1\/ brand6\/nuwss.html<\/p><\/div>\n

Suffragists<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

The main branch of the women\u2019s suffrage movement focused on a legal approach to passing legislation to enfranchise women by supporting pro-suffrage candidates despite party lines and organizing marches. The largest group was the National Union of Women\u2019s Suffrage Societies, which was headed by Millicent Garrett Fawcett who will be covered in more detail below. The NUWSS had a democratic structure and continued a portion of their activities through World War I.<\/p>\n

Holton, Sandra Stanley. Feminism and Democracy: Women’s Suffrage and Reform Politics in Britain, 1900-1918<\/i>. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]: Cambridge University Press, 1986.<\/p>\n

In this text, Sandra Holton focuses on the lesser-known groups that participated in the women\u2019s suffrage movement instead of on the Pankhursts.\u00a0 These groups avoided the militant tactics of the Women\u2019s Social and Political Union. For example, the National Union focused on canvassing and lobbying to get pro-suffrage candidates elected. She also explores the conflict over the idea of adult suffrage and the importance of the alliance between women\u2019s suffrage and the growing power of the Labour Party.<\/p>\n

Millicent Fawcett<\/span><\/p>\n

Millicent Garrett Fawcett circa 1913, http:\/\/www.loc.gov\/pictures\/resource\/ ggbain.00944\/<\/p><\/div>\n

A member of the women\u2019s suffrage movement for much of her life, Millicent Fawcett opposed the use of militant tactics, thinking it would hurt rather than help the cause.\u00a0 As the head of the National Union of Women\u2019s Suffrage Societies for over twenty years, she sought to gain women\u2019s suffrage through peaceable and legal channels. In her career, she published various works, some of which are included below along with a biographic resource.<\/p>\n