Suffragette City: How did the ‘votes for women’ campaign affect London 1906–1914?
The UK campaign for women’s right to vote in parliamentary elections began in the mid-19th century. Campaigners used argument and debate to try to persuade the government. When this did not work by the beginning of the 20th century, new tactics were adopted.
In 1903, the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) was set up in Manchester. The WSPU aimed to adopt more militant (strong or more direct) tactics to win the vote. Their members later became known as Suffragettes.
When the WSPU moved to London in 1906, the movement’s emphasis altered. From 1906–1914 the fight to win the vote became a public, and sometimes violent struggle that was very visible on the streets of the capital.
- Introduction (this page)
- Why did the campaign move to London in 1906?
- Why did the Suffragettes chain themselves to the railings of government buildings?
- Violence and disruption
- Suffragettes in prison
- Hunger strikes
- Further information
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