Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

A suffragette being removed from a meeting addressed by Lloyd George in 1913. PA Archive

Pics, video: Suffragette movement 100 years ago

In 1912, the suffragettes were engaged in an increasingly confrontational campaign to secure voting rights for women which included bomb attacks and hunger strikes.

WORLD WAR I proved the seismic turning point in the campaign for women’s suffrage in Britain. However, serious groundwork had been laid by the Suffragette movement in the years leading up to the Great War, particularly a century ago – in 1912 and 1913 – as their tactics became increasingly confrontational and controversial.

Campaigns calling for women to have voting rights began in the mid-19th century in response to the Great Reform Act which blocked women from voting. Millicent Garrett Fawcett launched her peaceful campaign for women’s rights in the 1860s, but the women’s suffrage campaign became more radical with the founding of the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Christabel and Sylvia.

Tactics employed by the suffragettes included lobbying campaigns targeting politicians and acts of civil disobedience such as mass protests, arson and disrupting political party meetings. Suffragettes who were arrested in connection with their campaign began holding hunger strikes in prison, but were forcibly fed. Here is an extract from an account suffragette Emily Wilding Davison wrote in 1912 of her force feeding experiences:

(Document via parliament.uk)

In February 1913, Emmeline Pankhurst was sentenced to three years after claiming responsibility for a bomb attack on a house being built for the then-Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George. No one was injured in the explosion, and Pankhurst was released early after going on hunger strike. According to a Manchester Guardian report at the time, Pankhurst said:

If they torture me with force-feeding, that cannot last very long; they cannot keep me alive very long; and they will have to let me die or let me go. If I drop out of the fight hundreds will take my place.

Photo of broken windows at Lloyd George’s house following the bomb attack. (PA Archive)

Two months after the attack on Lloyd George’s house, the Prisoners Temporary Discharge for Health Act was hurriedly passed through parliament. Under this legislation, hunger striking suffragettes in custody were monitored and released when they became seriously ill or weak, but could be re-arrested again once their health improved. However, the legislation – popularly known as the ‘Cat and Mouse Act’ – was counter-productive in failing to bolster public support against the suffragette movement.

Public awareness of the suffragette campaign was further heightened by a tragic event several weeks later. On 4 June 1913, Emily Wilding Davison stepped out in front of King George V’s horse during the Epsom Derby and died from her injuries a few days later.

(YouTube/britishpathe)

In photos: The Suffragette movement in 1912 and 1913:

The Suffragettes
1 / 17
  • The Suffragettes

    Suffragettes Lady Barclay (Berkeley) and Miss Fitzgerald attempt to present a petition to the King at Buckingham palace in 1914. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    Detail from a poster condeming the 1913 "Cat-and-Mouse" Act. (TOPHAMS/Topham Picturepoint)
  • The Suffragettes

    'Where shall I find the key? - Convicts and lunatics have no vote for parliament - Should all women be classed with these?' A poster from the Suffragette campaign of the early 20th century. (PA/TOPHAMS/Topham Picturepoint/Press Association Images)
  • The Suffragettes

    June 1913: the funeral procession of Emily Wilding Davison, after she was killed by throwing herself under King George V's horse at the Epsom Derby. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    St Catherine's church, Hatcham, London, burnt down by suffragettes on 6 May, 1913. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    Millicent Fawcett, who founded the National Union of Women's Suffrage, speaks at the Suffragette Pilgrimage in Hyde Park in July 1913. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    Suffragettes protest outside of the Albert Hall where the International Congress of Medicine is being held. ( Sport & General/S&G Barratts/EMPICS Archive/PA)
  • The Suffragettes

    A suffragette is removed by police during a meeting in Sutton-on-Ashfield, 1913, addressed by David Lloyd George. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    Detectives watching the London home of Emmeline Pankhurst, 1913. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    Emmeline Pankhurst leaves Bow Street police station, London after being bailed on a conspiracy charge, 1912. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    Women protesters being arrested in Hyde Park in 1912. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    Suffragettes at a mass meeting in the Royal Albert Hall circa 1913. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    A Suffragette meeting in 1912 amid a by-election at Holmfirth. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    A Suffragette is led away by the Police during a London demonstration in 1912. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    Police raid Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) offices in Kingsway, London 1913. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    Saunderton Station, Buckinghamshire was damaged by members of the Suffragettes as part of their escalating campaign for voting rights. (PA Archive)
  • The Suffragettes

    Image dated January 1913: Suffragettes from various parts of the country cycled to London for a meeting of the Suffragette Movement. (PA Archive)

WWI

The Suffragette campaign for voting rights was essentially suspended during World War I and the war saw a significant social shift in the numbers of women from different classes working in traditionally male-dominated roles to produce weapons and food.

Legislation empowering women to vote, run for office and take their seat in parliament was finally enacted in 1918. However, this legislation still restricted women voting with the inclusion of a clause requiring a minimum qualifying age of thirty for a woman to be allowed vote. Equal terms with male voters were enacted ten years later with the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise Act) 1928.

The first woman elected to the House of Commons was the Irish revolutionary Constance Markievicz, who refused to take up her seat in accordance with her party Sinn Féin’s boycott of the British parliament.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
13 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eileen O'Sullivan
    Favourite Eileen O'Sullivan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:02 PM

    The horse bolted last weekend when FG gave thousands of northern Italians a big Cead mile Failte.
    41.7bn to bail out casino banks and all the pain that entailed. 2bn of which 480ml is dedicated to saving lives.

    96
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Monty Donotno
    Favourite Monty Donotno
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:11 PM

    @Eileen O’Sullivan: we’ve the Cheltenham hangover to look forward to as well. Only defence of our government would be our European neighbors weren’t acting urgently either. Would have taken visionary leadership to swallow the economic impact early on. And there is an inevitability the virus sneaks into every country at some stage and spreads for a while unnoticed. So spreading the economic impact over a larger period is possibly another legitimate approach.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Furey
    Favourite Paul Furey
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:14 PM

    @Eileen O’Sullivan: Do you know how many tickets were bought by Italians, how many people were from northern Italy (near the affected areas) and how many of those actually travelled? I can’t find anything on Google.

    24
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O'Keeffe
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:16 PM

    @Eileen O’Sullivan: that banking crisis had a fatality rate that nobody likes to talk about but you keep taking your cheap shots. Also, if you hadn’t noticed, it’s not up to FG to cancel flights, it’s up to the airlines and thankfully they have now.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ☘
    Favourite ☘
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:22 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: a bit late now the italian invasion was last week

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sk19
    Favourite Sk19
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:33 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: it’s up to FG. Under our constitution they are still the government in power , we are supposed to be a sovereign country and as the government they control our borders .

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O'Keeffe
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:42 PM

    @☘: tell it to Ryanair and Aer Lingus. They y é just shown that it was up to them all along.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eileen O'Sullivan
    Favourite Eileen O'Sullivan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 2:02 PM

    @Paul Furey: The Po valley is the home and the main fan base of Rugby in Italy. Also the most populous region. Estimates for last weekend were between 3000 and 7000. FG are currently pumping out shock headlines to deflect from their culpability.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Connoroconner
    Favourite Connoroconner
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 2:39 PM

    @Eileen O’Sullivan: the IRFU said they sold 2500 tickets

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
    Favourite Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 2:47 PM

    @Eileen O’Sullivan: Two false starts but no horse bolted yet.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thenewguy
    Favourite thenewguy
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 2:06 PM

    Close the schools

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dannys Dentures
    Favourite Dannys Dentures
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 4:11 PM

    @thenewguy: this sort of nonsense is going to draw into recession, less than 30 cases in a country of almost 5 million
    Get a grip

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute pkunzip doom2.zip
    Favourite pkunzip doom2.zip
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 6:16 PM

    @Dannys Dentures: Not 30 of 5million, it’s 30 out of the number tested people which I suspect is extremely low considering they were boasting a figure or 200tested in a week last week

    4
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cormac Bracken
    Favourite Cormac Bracken
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 6:40 PM

    Acting early avoids the health system being overwhlemed:

    https://flowingdata.com/2020/03/09/flatten-the-coronavirus-curve/

    Close the schools.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Dillon
    Favourite Seán Dillon
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:36 PM

    Are GAA matches which draw larger crowds been reviewed or cancelled.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Olivia Smith
    Favourite Olivia Smith
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 3:04 PM

    @Seán Dillon: I live right beside croke Park and am not looking forward to the 15&17th of March. The stadium will be full and the amount of people gathering around on the streets will be hugh. Have sent an email to the lady in Croke Park who looks after everything in the community but she hasn’t answered. Doubt she will because the GAA don’t like to loose money. It’s not fair on the elderly who live in the area to potential put them at risk.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pseud O'Nym
    Favourite Pseud O'Nym
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 3:55 PM

    @Olivia Smith: as long as Croke Park area residents aren’t standing outside their houses looking for people to cough on them it shouldn’t really cause them any extra problem as long as they’re taking the recommended precautions.

    15
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Olivia Smith
    Favourite Olivia Smith
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 4:04 PM

    @Pseud O’Nym: We don’t lock ourselves in doors you know? People need to go out for different things. It’s a mass gathering and should be treated the same as the rugby and parade. Don’t worry I’m sure your ticket will be ok to use later in the year when they have to reschedule it. Also the people who work in bars and shops around are at risk. So silly comment in my opinion.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GO GREEN
    Favourite GO GREEN
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 2:11 PM

    Its not inevitable that we become another Italy, with hundred or more, dying every day, if we learn from China and act now and put the country in lock down. If we wait any longer, it will be too late so why wait to put the country will go in lock down, only when the virus is at its peak.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Kelly
    Favourite Daniel Kelly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 2:17 PM

    @GO GREEN: HSE wanted confirmed cases before they believed it was a problem need I say more?

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GO GREEN
    Favourite GO GREEN
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 2:35 PM

    @GO GREEN: Yes its crazy, we know what should be done but they will not do it until it is too late just like in Italy.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith Fay
    Favourite Keith Fay
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 2:21 PM

    From a friend of mine in Italy! -
    The world should learn from us in Italy.
    Most of the people said it’s a flu, we gotta keep living normally, blah blah blah, and now?
    We’re completely in lockdown, 9k+ infected and lots of people dying every day.
    ICU collapsing, not enough machineries, no beds, doctors getting infected.
    If only people took it seriously right away, instead of saying bullshit, going out with friends at bars, going against the law and authorities and underestimating the problem, we wouldn’t be in such a dangerous situation, with riots even in prisons and doctors forced to save ONLY the patients without other underlying issues and healthier, with more life expectancy.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy C
    Favourite Tommy C
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:27 PM

    Did the government allow Cheltenham to take place because they also wanted some big ships with sick people on board?

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
    Favourite Paul O'Sullivan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:49 PM

    @Tommy C: it is not up to the Government to cancel Cheltenham.That would be up to the UK Horse Racing Authority,

    I get your point, I think it should be cancelled. I think both UK and Irish goverment are not doing enough to contain this. I was watching Siimon Coveney on Claure Byrne show last night he seemed hell bent on the ‘delay phase’ which is a protracted spread of the virus over a long period such as 18 months rather than an explosion of the virus like italy… UK seem to be on the same scenario, which means, the chances are we will all get it at some stage… it’s the cheaper option they are taking..

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Connoroconner
    Favourite Connoroconner
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 2:45 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: they are taking that option because it is the only one that makes any sense at this point. An explosion like in Italy would totally overwhelm ours, or any, health service. Better to have 10,000 a month for ten months rather than 100,000 at the same time. Is that not obvious? Italy is struggling, they’re having to decide who gets the intensive care beds, the old person who probably wont survive or the younger person who might have a better chance. Doctors there are now making those decisions every day.

    10
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
    Favourite Paul O'Sullivan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 3:33 PM

    @Connoroconner: I agree, people need to realise this is going to be a long haul, sooner a vaccine is available the better…. everyone needs to wise up to this policy of ‘delay phase’ as well as containment.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Govan
    Favourite Peter Govan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 3:42 PM

    Its scandalous just shut the country down.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Arya
    Favourite Arya
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:26 PM

    Looking online for a cheap ticket to Wuhuan. Yes, I have a particular type of wish.:-)

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
    Favourite Paul O'Sullivan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 4:38 PM

    @Arya: I’d rather swim with Great Whire Sharks,

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Ebbs
    Favourite Jason Ebbs
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 2:23 PM

    Out of the first 12 articles here on the journal, 10 are about the coronavirus.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Justice Mickey
    Favourite Justice Mickey
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 3:50 PM

    @Jason Ebbs:
    Coronavirus is in one way or another going to affect everyone in the country with a potential to cause a lot of deaths.
    It’s an unknown at the moment so I can assure you that I want to be kept up to date on it.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mc Donagh
    Favourite John Mc Donagh
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 4:39 PM

    I never before witnessed such a “dooms-day mentality” If youse are all going to die before me please don’t forget me in your will. Thank youse.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pavel Shipilov
    Favourite Pavel Shipilov
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 11:45 PM

    They have to implement FULL lockdown as it is not too late yet, we have just few days to do it, ppl are too relaxed, the virus is not fully studied yet and apparently can have no symptoms whatsoever.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Harrington
    Favourite Thomas Harrington
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:24 PM

    So will Aer Lingus refund me the flights they just cancelled on me?

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds