The Suffragist Campaign

Find out specifically:

When did the womens suffrage campaign
start?
When was the NUWSS founded?
What was the name of their newspaper?
How many members did the NUWSS have?
Who were the Radical Suffragists?
What was the Pact of Mutual Assistance
with the Labour Party?
What was the 1913 Pilgrimage?

The Suffragists
Campaign
Campaign started in 1867 when an amendment was proposed to the Reform Bill to give women this
vote (John Stuart Mill). Wasnt accepted.
Targeted MPs as MPs were the only ones who could actually grant women the vote. Won over many
Liberal and Conservative MPs.
Newspaper The Common Cause, marches, pamphlets, many petitions, several meetings with party
leaders and the prime minister.
1909 6,000 members, 1914 53,000
(After 1900) Won over the Labour Party entirely signed a pact of mutual assistance. The Labour
partys position was therefore officially pro-votes for women.
1913 Pilgrimage march on London from across Britain. Many women walked the entire way. Met in
Hyde Park on 26 July for a peaceful protest.
Strengths
Peaceful campaign, always worked within the law. The were realists. Gained a great deal of respect
when campaign contrasted to Suffragettes especially the 1913 pilgrimage.
Got the support of many trade unions which were influential in the Labour Party and had the support
of the working classes.
Radical Suffragists led by the Gore-Booth sisters. Important in the north of England especially in
Lancashire. Instrumental in improving the working conditions of female cotton workers. An
alternative to the male-dominated trade unions.
Certainly did have the ear of parliament. Their views were important in the attempts to enfranchise
women before the war (the Conciliation Bills)
NUWSS provided refuge for those who were disillusioned with Suffragette violence. Martin Pugh probably the one positive contribution of the Pankhursts to winning the vote
In 1913 Asquith had several meetings with the leaders of the Suffragists, proving that votes for women
was still on the agenda on the eve of the First World War.
Weaknesses
NUWSS have been criticised for being too cautious. Only proposed that a small proportion of
propertied, wealthy, married women should be enfranchised (even fewer than were eventually
enfranchised in 1918).
Although they had working class members, the leadership was exclusively middle class (even the
Radical Suffragists).
Certainly were not as well known as the Suffragettes. Never got as much publicity.
Never won over Asquith (PM from 1908) bete-noir of the Suffragist/gette campaign.
Over 40 year campaign with little success.