The Suffragettes were militant campaigners for votes for women. They were founded in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst and their official name was the WSPU (Womens' Social and Political Union). Their motto was "deeds not words" and they were determined to make the government notice them.

The Suffragettes' tactics included:

Interrupting meetings
Smashing windows
Chaining themselves to railings
Setting fire to post boxes
Throwing acid on golf courses
Blowing up opponents' houses (when they were empty)
Emily Davison famously ran in front of the King's horse at the Epsom Derby.

The Suffragettes were criticised by the newspapers and many politicians who argued that their law-breaking just showed that women acted on emotion, not reason and so they didn't deserve the vote.

However, the Suffragettes were very successful in gaining publicity and many admired their courage and bravery. They caused a huge problem for the government who couldn't ignore their attacks on property. Hundreds of women were arrested, but many women continued their protest in prison by going on hunger strike. At first the government tried a policy of force-feeding but this was brutal and caused outrage. They then passed the Cat and Mouse Act which allowed hunger-striking women to be released from jail when they were ill, and then quickly re-arrested if they broke the law again.

When World War I broke out in 1914, the WSPU called off their militant campaign and encouraged their supporters to help the war effort.

Year 9 Democracy and Dictatorship

The Suffragettes (WSPU)