Suffragettes Tactics

The suffragettes are well known for their acts of violence. They would damage property as a way off demanding for women’s suffrage. A tactic that the suffragettes were known for was their violent acts and property damage. In November 1911 when Asquith replaced the conciliation bill with a measure to enfranchise the last of the male population. “Furious that their bill was torpedoed the suffragettes smashed windows in protest” (Raeburn,1975, P.53). This was a tactic that people recognised the suffragettes by. This tactic was effective, due to the fact that by breaking windows they were getting more media coverage, as well as a gain in support because the public saw these acts as a justification for not being given the vote. This contributed to women getting the vote because it was spreading the women’s suffrage movement nationally, making more people aware of the movement.
They believed that by campaigning in a civil way, to show people that women deserve the vote. This was an important tactic in the suffragist movement. The suffragist movement was surrounded around the fact that they were constitutionalists. A great example is when the conciliation bill was in parliament the suffragists (NUWSS) held a great demonstration of support in Trafalgar square, three days before the second reading of the bill (Wingerden,1999, P.120-121). They drew in 10,000 people, and urged them to spread the message of women’s suffrage across the country. During the demonstration, they would use badges saying support the bill, and put up displays in shop window, as well as many other forms (Wingerden,1999, P.120). This shows how the suffragists campaigned, through using the tactic following the constitution. Their methods were effective, because they would successfully spread the message in a manner seen as respectful and