VOTES FOR WOMEN – WSPU (Women’s Social & Political Union) tin button badge (c.1910)
The Women’s Social & Political Union (WSPU) was an early 20th century organisation campaigning for equal voting and legal rights alongside those of men. Campaigning for women’s voting rights was known as suffrage and although there were other suffrage groups, the WSPU are probably the best known for their hard-line militancy and confrontational actions used to draw attention to their cause. The WSPU motto ‘Deeds not Words’ and radical actions set them apart from the longer established National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). Membership of the WSPU was much smaller than other suffrage groups and more tightly controlled by its leadership.
The WSPU was founded in 1903 as a breakaway group from the less militant NUWSS, who felt the NUWSS were too pacifist and docile in their approach and thus making insufficient headway in the struggle for women's suffrage. Under the leadership of the Pankhursts, the militant tactics of the WSPU were stepped up in reaction to the Establishment's resistance to universal suffrage and by 1910 were reaching new heights in both activity and the public outrage they caused. However, the outbreak of WW1 in 1914 saw the WSPU redirect their activities from militancy and suffrage campaigning to a patriotic war effort that mainly encouraged men to take up arms in defence of King and Country. In October 1915 the WSPU renamed their newspaper Britannia from the The Suffragette, reflecting a more patriotic change of policy and support for the war effort. As the war went on, the WSPU's struggle for women's suffrage faded and in 1917 were formally dissolved. Their leaders, Emmeline and Christable Pankhurst continued their political struggels with the formation of the Women's Party which in turned was wound-up in 1919. The struggle for women's suffrage was continued by the NUWSS.
The Representation of the People Act 1918 give voting rights to a limited number of women subject to marital and property qualifications. However, much of the credit for this achievement is attributed to the NUWSS rather than the WSPU. It would be 1928 before universal voting rights were extended to all women in Britain without qualification, as a result of the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928.
References:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_Social_and_Political_Union (WSPU, Women’s Social & Political Union 1903-1917).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffragette (Suffragette term explained. Members of the WSPU became known as Suffragettes whereas members of the less radical and less militant NUWSS were known as the Suffragists.)
richardjohnbr.blogspot.com/2008/03/suffrage-after-1903-ws... (Article analysing the aims and methods of the WSPU).
spartacus-educational.com/Wnuwss.htm (NUWSS founded 1897. This article also includes an outline history and informative video of women’s suffrage organisations during the 19th century and to the outbreak of WW1 in 1914.)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_suffrage_in_the_United_Kingdom (Women’s suffrage in Britain).
Enamels: n/a
Finish: n/a.
Material: Paper, cellulose & tin.
Fixer: Pin.
Size: 3/8” in diameter (about 10mm).
Process: Tin button-badge.
Maker: The Merchant’s Portrait Company, Kentish Town Road, London NW.
Image reproduced by kind permission of Kevin Brown. This rare and tiny badge sold for £470 plus p&p on 29th January 2011 (eBay item number 130477262263).
VOTES FOR WOMEN – WSPU (Women’s Social & Political Union) tin button badge (c.1910)
The Women’s Social & Political Union (WSPU) was an early 20th century organisation campaigning for equal voting and legal rights alongside those of men. Campaigning for women’s voting rights was known as suffrage and although there were other suffrage groups, the WSPU are probably the best known for their hard-line militancy and confrontational actions used to draw attention to their cause. The WSPU motto ‘Deeds not Words’ and radical actions set them apart from the longer established National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). Membership of the WSPU was much smaller than other suffrage groups and more tightly controlled by its leadership.
The WSPU was founded in 1903 as a breakaway group from the less militant NUWSS, who felt the NUWSS were too pacifist and docile in their approach and thus making insufficient headway in the struggle for women's suffrage. Under the leadership of the Pankhursts, the militant tactics of the WSPU were stepped up in reaction to the Establishment's resistance to universal suffrage and by 1910 were reaching new heights in both activity and the public outrage they caused. However, the outbreak of WW1 in 1914 saw the WSPU redirect their activities from militancy and suffrage campaigning to a patriotic war effort that mainly encouraged men to take up arms in defence of King and Country. In October 1915 the WSPU renamed their newspaper Britannia from the The Suffragette, reflecting a more patriotic change of policy and support for the war effort. As the war went on, the WSPU's struggle for women's suffrage faded and in 1917 were formally dissolved. Their leaders, Emmeline and Christable Pankhurst continued their political struggels with the formation of the Women's Party which in turned was wound-up in 1919. The struggle for women's suffrage was continued by the NUWSS.
The Representation of the People Act 1918 give voting rights to a limited number of women subject to marital and property qualifications. However, much of the credit for this achievement is attributed to the NUWSS rather than the WSPU. It would be 1928 before universal voting rights were extended to all women in Britain without qualification, as a result of the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928.
References:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_Social_and_Political_Union (WSPU, Women’s Social & Political Union 1903-1917).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffragette (Suffragette term explained. Members of the WSPU became known as Suffragettes whereas members of the less radical and less militant NUWSS were known as the Suffragists.)
richardjohnbr.blogspot.com/2008/03/suffrage-after-1903-ws... (Article analysing the aims and methods of the WSPU).
spartacus-educational.com/Wnuwss.htm (NUWSS founded 1897. This article also includes an outline history and informative video of women’s suffrage organisations during the 19th century and to the outbreak of WW1 in 1914.)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_suffrage_in_the_United_Kingdom (Women’s suffrage in Britain).
Enamels: n/a
Finish: n/a.
Material: Paper, cellulose & tin.
Fixer: Pin.
Size: 3/8” in diameter (about 10mm).
Process: Tin button-badge.
Maker: The Merchant’s Portrait Company, Kentish Town Road, London NW.
Image reproduced by kind permission of Kevin Brown. This rare and tiny badge sold for £470 plus p&p on 29th January 2011 (eBay item number 130477262263).