The Suffragists and Suffragettes Background

The Suffragists: National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS)

The Suffragettes: Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)

• 1866: Campaigners collected 1500 signatures for votes for women
• 1867: Lydia Becker formed Manchester Society for Women's Suffrage
• After the petition failure they started writing, lecturing and organising more petitions
• 1897: Millicent Fawcett joined many orgainsations together and stayed president for over 20 years
• 1914: Over 400 branches and 100,000 members
• It was a democratic organisation
• Many women were middle class
• Men were allowed to join
• Also wanted to improve married women's rights

• 1903: Founded by Emmeline Pankhurst
• Slogan: Deeds not Words
• Pankhurst controlled as was impatient with WSPU peaceful methods
• 1905: Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney spat at  and hit policeman
  • They were charged with assault and sentenced to 7 days imprisonment
  • 20,000 people waited outside the prison when she was released
• Men were not allowed to join
• 1906: Moved headquarters to London
• There it recruited middle and upper class however working class membership fell
• Militancy was news!