Why Is The Wspu Successful

The Women’s Social and Political Union was a militant organization that campaigned for Women’s enfranchisement in the years between 1903 and 1917 (Lance 1979, 51-53).Through time, the WSPU conducted inadequate militant actions that damaged their cause, but they contributed to the war efforts during WWI and were able to help women gain enfranchisement, therefore they were partially successful in promoting the British Suffragette movement. They used various forms of propaganda, adopted militant strategies, and supported the war effort to promote the suffragette movement (Lance, 1979, 51-53). Some historians agree that the forms of propaganda and the militant strategies employed by the WSPU proved that they were willing to make sacrifices for
In August 1914, the relationship between the British Government and the Women’s Social and Political Union changed when Germany and Britain went to war. The WSPU left their suffrage work and assisted in the war effort (Lance, 1979, 56). “By 1916, when the government raised the question of extending the franchise to women and servicemen as part of an attempt to reform voting rights, the WSPU had long been working to recruit men and women for military and munitions service” (Mayhall, 1999, 3). By 1917, almost all of the opposition towards the women's suffrage had disappeared. “The assistance of women in the war effort and the postponement of militancy were responsible for the change” (Lance, 1979, 56). Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith stated, “My opposition to the women’s right to vote is well known. However, for three years now the Suffragettes have not restarted that horrible campaign of violence. Not only that, they have contributed to every service during this war except that of fighting. I therefore believe that some measure of women’s suffrage should be given” (Asquith, 1917). Based on the claim made by Asquith, the Women’s Social and Political Union was, in fact, successful in promoting the Suffragette movement, gaining the support of some members of the House of Commons and society by contributing to the war effort as they did. In 1918, the British Representation of the People Act was finally passed. “The act conferred the franchise upon woman over thirty years of age. More than eight million women gained the right to vote”(Ogg, 1918, 500). This act proved for once and for all that the WSPU had successfully promoted their cause within the