In 1900, no women could vote in parliamentary elections. The campaign for women's suffrage had been peacefully active since the 1860s — the moderate National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), led by Millicent Fawcett, used petitions, meetings, and lobbying. By 1903, the peaceful approach seemed to be achieving nothing.

Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in Manchester in 1903 with the motto "Deeds not Words." The WSPU began a campaign of escalating militancy:

1903-1905: Heckling politicians at meetings, distributing leaflets, chaining themselves to railings outside Parliament — arrests and short prison sentences

1908-1912: Window-smashing campaigns (West End of London, government offices), arson attacks on postboxes and empty buildings, slashing paintings in galleries. Women arrested and imprisoned.

Hunger strikes in prison (from 1909): Suffragettes imprisoned for militant acts went on hunger strike. The government ordered force-feeding, which was painful and publicly condemned. When the Cat and Mouse Act (1913) allowed authorities to release, then re-arrest, weakened hunger strikers, it was widely seen as cruel.

Emily Wilding Davison at the Derby, June 1913: Davison ran onto the racetrack at Epsom and was fatally struck by the King's horse. Whether this was intentional or a publicity stunt gone wrong is debated. Her funeral procession drew huge crowds. She became the movement's most famous martyr.

The suffragette campaign was suspended when war broke out in August 1914. Emmeline Pankhurst called on all WSPU members to support the war effort. The contribution of women during the war — in munitions factories, transport, nursing, and agriculture — made the pre-war arguments against women's suffrage much harder to sustain.

Quick Check: Name THREE Liberal reforms between 1906 and 1911, with their dates and who benefited.

This deep dive covers The Suffragette Movement within Britain in Peace and War, 1900-1918 for GCSE History. Revise Britain in Peace and War, 1900-1918 in Component Group 3 — British Depth Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 4 of 17 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Quick recall flashcards

What did the Old Age Pensions Act 1908 provide?

5 shillings per week (7s 6d for a couple) for those aged 70 or over with incomes below £21/year. Paid at the post office — no need to enter the workhouse. Lloyd George called the recipients 'God's children.'

How did the National Insurance Act 1911 work?

Workers paid 4d/week, employers 3d, state 2d. Part 1 (health): sick pay and medical treatment for ~13 million workers. Part 2 (unemployment): 7 shillings/week for up to 15 weeks for 2.5 million workers in seasonal trades.

The Suffragette Movement

Practice questions for Britain in Peace and War, 1900-1918

Quick recall flashcards

14 questions on Britain in Peace and War, 1900-1918: practise free