World of Art Global Vintage Anti-Suffragette Propaganda 'Don't Marry A Suffragette', circa. 1905-1918, Reproduction 200gsm A3 Classic Vintage Suffragette Poster

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The movement was renewed in the States decades after the end of the Civil War, when suffragist Alice Paul organized a national pro-suffrage parade in Washington, D.C. It was an unprecedented gathering of women exercising their First Amendment right to peaceable assembly. Harrison , Brian. Private Archive Collection, Oxford. [His documentation, which is remarkably abundant, contains recordings, photos, newspaper articles, reports and primary source documents that witnesses and participants in the movements contributed to his collection.] Suffragettes favoured more militant action than suffragists. The most active organisation was the Women’s Social and Political Union led by Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst. That same year, 15 states granted women the right to vote on the municipal level. With support from President Woodrow Wilson, Congress voted on the federal amendment five times between January 1918 and June 1919. OCR – A Level History: England and a New Century c1900-1918: Political issues: the issue of women’s suffrage 1906-1914.

Many books are available in The National Archives’ reference library. You can search the library catalogue for titles of interest. William Cremer was one of the leading opponents of women's suffrage. Hansard reported a speech he made in the House of Commons on women's suffrage on 25th April, 1906, he argued: "He (William Cremer) had always contended that if we opened the door and enfranchised ever so small a number of females, they could not possibly close it, and that it ultimately meant adult suffrage. The government of the country would therefore be handed over to a majority who would not be men, but women. Women are creatures of impulse and emotion and did not decide questions on the ground of reason as men did. He was sometimes described as a woman-hater, but he had had two wives, and he thought that was the best answer he could give to those who called him a woman-hater. He was too fond of them to drag them into the political arena and to ask them to undertake responsibilities, duties and obligations which they did not understand and did not care for." An anti-suffrage postcard published in 1900. Cats and dogs are gendered in contemporary American culture, such that dogs are thought to be the proper pet for men and cats for women (especially lesbians). This, it turns out, is an old stereotype. In fact, cats were a common symbol in suffragette imagery. Cats represented the domestic sphere, and anti-suffrage postcards often used them to reference female activists. The intent was to portray suffragettes as silly, infantile, incompetent, and ill-suited to political engagement.The two men’s organizations which worked for votes for women were the Men’s League for Women’s Suffrage, founded in 1907, and the Men’s Political Union for Women’s Enfranchisement of 1910. Many men supported their wives, sisters and girlfriends, although most men did not. Those who did paid a heavy price for being ‘sex traitors’ and suffered violence whilst offering protection at public meetings, and lost their reputations or jobs. Women’s Freedom Leaguewas formed in 1907 following a split within the Women’s Social and Political Union. Palczewski, Catherine H. Postcard Archive. University of Northern Iowa. Cedar Falls, IA. Anti-suffrage propaganda was more about keeping women domesticated rather than equal voting rights. Suffragettes Annie Kenny and Christabel Pankhurst 1906 (COPY 1/494) 2.2 What period do the records cover? The women's suffrage movement made big gains in 1916, when Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to Congress in Montana. Through her position, Rankin helped lobby for a constitutional amendment put forth by suffragist leader Susan B. Anthony, which asserted that states could not discriminate against sex when it came to voting rights for women.

It is important that students recognise that the same document can serve as evidence for more than one line of enquiry. Encourage students to interpret the records, spot inferences and try and detect any unwitting testimony. Here are some general guidance questions to help them evaluate and understand documents. Teachers may wish to print these out and discuss with the students before looking at the material.

LSE and the suffrage movement

Our collection reflects the interests of the government and offers an insight into how it responded to civil disobedience and changes to public opinion. But the peaceful parade turned violent after a mob of police officers and anti-suffrage protesters interrupted it. Many of the suffragists were spat on, yelled at, and even physically assaulted. Paul, tired of the harassment, formed the National Woman's Party, which was essentially the American equivalent to Britain's militant WSPU.