The Suffragist Movement: Peaceful Persuasion

The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), led by Millicent Fawcett, adopted a peaceful approach to campaigning for women's suffrage. The suffragists believed in using non-violent methods to persuade men that women were kind, gentle, and rational, and therefore deserving of the right to vote.

Vocabulary: Suffragists were members of the women's suffrage movement who advocated for peaceful and constitutional means to achieve voting rights for women.

The NUWSS employed various tactics to further their cause:

1. They used their political contacts to lobby Members of Parliament (MPs).
2. Members were trained to speak publicly and persuade people through non-violent means.
3. They created pamphlets and petitions to make their case to the government.
4. The organization pledged to support MPs who believed in universal suffrage.

One of the most notable actions of the NUWSS was the Great Pilgrimage of 1913. When the government failed to pass an act extending the vote to women in 1912, the NUWSS organized a march from Carlisle to London. This peaceful demonstration garnered significant support, with thousands of people joining the march along the way.

Example: The Great Pilgrimage of 1913 saw suffragists march from Carlisle to London, gathering support and demonstrating their commitment to peaceful protest.

The suffragists' approach was characterized by patience and persistence, believing that through rational argument and demonstration of women's capabilities, they could eventually win the right to vote.

Comparing Suffragist and Suffragette Approaches

The women's suffrage movement in the United Kingdom was characterized by diverse approaches, with the suffragettes vs suffragists differences and actions becoming increasingly apparent as the campaign intensified. While both groups shared the ultimate goal of securing voting rights for women, their methods and philosophies differed significantly.

Suffragists (NUWSS):

• Led by Millicent Fawcett
• Advocated for peaceful and constitutional methods
• Focused on persuasion through rational argument and demonstration
• Created pamphlets, petitions, and organized peaceful demonstrations
• Trained members in public speaking and non-violent persuasion
• Organized the Great Pilgrimage from Carlisle to London in 1913

Suffragettes (WSPU):

• Led by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters
• Adopted militant tactics and direct action
• Believed in "deeds not words"
• Engaged in disruptive activities such as shouting over MPs and holding demonstrations
• Initiated more extreme actions including stone-throwing, arson, and property damage
• Willing to face arrest and imprisonment for their cause

Quote: "We are here, not because we are law-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers." - Emmeline Pankhurst

Despite their different approaches, both groups united in supporting the war effort during World War I, temporarily suspending their campaigns for women's suffrage.

Highlight: The diversity of tactics employed by the suffragists and suffragettes ultimately contributed to the eventual success of the women's suffrage movement in the UK.

The contrast between the peaceful methods of the suffragists and the militant actions of the suffragettes created a complex and multifaceted movement that challenged the status quo from various angles. This diversity of approach played a crucial role in keeping the issue of women's suffrage at the forefront of public and political discourse, ultimately contributing to the eventual success of the movement.