Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you?

Hope you're feeling really good.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling really pleased about that because I think we've got quite an interesting topic ahead of us.

Our lesson is called "The suffragettes.

" Have you heard of the suffragettes?

Do you know much about them?

I am curious.

And don't worry if you do or not.

We are going to be getting into them today.

Our lesson is called "The suffragettes.

" Our lesson comes from the unit of work, Women's suffrage: why did it take so long for women in Britain to get the vote?

So if you are ready to dive into this topic of women's suffrage, if you have some energy, focus, and enthusiasm, we'll begin our lesson now.

The outcome for today's lesson is: I can explain why some women were frustrated at the lack of progress of the NUWSS and why the more radical WSPU was formed.

I hope this sounds interesting to you.

We have some keywords in our lesson.

I'd like us to go through them one at a time, saying them out loud.

My turn, your turn.

Suffrage.

Suffragist.

Suffragette.

Radical.

Good to hear those keywords.

Let's find out what they mean.

Suffrage is the right to vote.

Suffragist: a person advocating for the extension of the right to vote, especially to women.

Suffragette: a woman seeking the right to vote through organized and sometimes violent protest.

Radical: departing from tradition.

So these are our keywords: suffrage, suffragist, suffragette, and radical.

Share with someone nearby, had you heard of any of these words before?

Did you already know the meanings of any of these keywords?

Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's be on the lookout for these keywords.

Let's listen out for them.

Let's think carefully about these keywords which will be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called "The suffragettes," and it has three learning cycles: the reasons for the creation of the WSPU, suffragette tactics, and divisions within the women's suffrage movement.

Let's begin by exploring the reasons for the creation of the WSPU.

Here's a banner calling for action to try to further the cause of female suffrage.

Pause here and share with someone any details you notice about this banner.

Thanks for sharing.

I think the slogan "Deeds not words" is really powerful.

The WSPU, Women's Social and Political Union, was created in 1903 and was led by Emmeline Pankhurst.

Here's a photo of Emmeline Pankhurst, the WSPU leader.

Pause here and share with someone anything you notice about this photograph of Emmeline Pankhurst.

Thanks for sharing what you noticed.

Here's a photo of Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney, WSPU leaders, 1908.

Christabel Pankhurst was the eldest daughter of Emmeline Pankhurst.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What does WSPU stand for?

Choose from this selection.

A, Women's Social and Political Union.

B, Women's Suffrage and Political Union.

C, Women's Secret Political Union.

Pause here while you decide what does WSPU stand for?

Well done if you selected answer A.

Indeed, WSPU stands for Women's Social and Political Union.

On this page, we have the word suffrage.

Can you pause here and share with someone what does the word suffrage mean?

It's one of our keywords.

Thanks for sharing.

Perhaps you said that suffrage means the right to vote.

Let's have another check for understanding.

True or false?

The WSPU included men as well as women.

Pause here while you decide is this statement true or false?

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to justify your answer by choosing from one of these two statements.

A, the WSPU excluded men and was for upper- and middle-class women only.

B, the WSPU excluded men and was for working-class as well as middle- and upper-class women.

Pause here while you decide which of these statements justifies your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected statement B.

Indeed, the WSPU excluded men and was for working-class as well as middle- and upper-class women.

This statement justifies your earlier answer.

And now it's time for your first task.

Why was the WSPU created?

Try to list at least two reasons in your answer.

So pause here while you have a go at this task of explaining why the WSPU was created and giving at least two reasons.

I'll see you when you finish your task.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task of explaining why the WSPU was created?

Your answer may have included something like this.

Emmeline Pankhurst believed not enough progress was being made by the NUWSS.

Pankhurst wanted deeds, not words.

She did not think speeches or petitions were achieving anything.

Pankhurst thought the cause of women's suffrage was so important that she was prepared to use militant types of protest, which the NUWSS would never allow.

Well done if you gave an answer like this.

Well done for having a go at this task.

And now we're on to our next learning cycle, suffragette tactics.

Here's a photo of the arrest of Emmeline Pankhurst in 1914.

Pause here and share with someone, what are some of the details that you notice in this photograph?

Thanks for sharing.

Suffrage tactics included demonstrations, window smashing, arson, hunger strikes.

And here's a satirical cartoon referring to the violence that frequently accompanied suffragette demonstrations.

Pause here and share with someone some of the details you notice in this image.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's a photo of Emily Davison's death at the Derby, June 1913.

Emily Davison moved onto the course and was hit by the king's horse.

She died four days later from her injuries.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Where did the headquarters of the WSPU relocate to in 1906?

Choose from this selection: A, Birmingham; B, London; C, Devon.

Pause here while you decide where did the headquarters of the WSPU relocate to in 1906?

Well done if you selected answer B, London.

This is where the headquarters of the WSPU relocated to in 1906.

Let's have another check for understanding.

True or false?

Suffragette tactics became more violent over time.

Pause here while you decide is this statement true or false?

Well done if you selected true, and now I'd like you to justify your answer by choosing from one of these two statements.

A, the most radical tactics were used in the 18 months prior to the First World War, or B, there was a gradual increase in the use of speeches and petitions.

Pause here while you decide which of these statements justifies your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected statement A.

Indeed, the most radical tactics were used in the 18 months prior to the First World War.

This statement justifies your earlier answer.

And now it's time for your next task.

One, I'd like you to match each suffragette tactic to its relevant description.

So here are the suffragette tactics: hunger strike, arson, window smashing.

And the relevant descriptions: an act of vandalism where shops, businesses, or houses have their windows broken through stone throwing, deliberately setting fire to a property, a method of protest during which food is refused.

So pause here while you match each suffragette tactic to its relevant description.

I'll see you when you're finished.

So how did you get on with that task of matching each suffragette tactic to its relevant description?

Your answers should include something like this.

Hunger strike is a method of protest during which food is refused.

Arson is deliberately setting fire to a property.

And window smashing is an act of vandalism where shops, businesses, or houses have their windows broken through stone throwing.

Well done if you matched each suffragette tactic to its relevant description in this way.

And now on to the next part of your task.

I would like you to explain which suffragette tactic you think would have been the most effective and why.

So pause here while you have a go at this part of your task.

It's good to be back with you.

So how did you get on with explaining which suffragette tactic you think would've been the most effective and why?

Your answer may include something like this.

In my opinion, the tactic of going on hunger strike would have been most effective.

Smashing windows and arson attacks could have been seen as just criminal acts of vandalism, whereas it is more likely that hunger strikers would've been considered as political protestors rather than as criminals.

Furthermore, women on hunger strike would've received more sympathy, which would've encouraged more people to support the campaign for women's suffrage.

Well done if you answered like this.

Well done for having a go at this task.

And now we're on to our final learning cycle, divisions within the women's suffrage movement.

Votes for women.

Well, which women?

1903: votes for all women.

1907: votes for women on the same terms as men.

And here's a photo of women campaigning for female suffrage.

Pause here and share with someone any details you notice in this photograph.

Thanks for sharing what you noticed.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Why were there disagreements within the WSPU?

Discuss this question with a partner.

Pause here while you do this.

You may have discussed these points.

Some campaigners wanted universal suffrage, all women would be able to vote.

Others only wanted female taxpayers to have the right to vote on the same terms as men.

There were also divisions about whether violent methods were effective or not.

Well done if you discussed these points about the disagreements within the WSPU.

Let's have another check for understanding.

In what year did the aims of the WSPU become more conservative, votes for women on equal terms with men?

Choose from this selection.

A, 1900.

B, 1907.

C, 1918.

Pause here while you decide in what year did the aims of the WSPU become more conservative?

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, it was in 1907 that the aims of the WSPU became more conservative, votes for women on equal terms with men.

And now it's time for your final task.

I would like you to read the views of Laura and Sofia.

Who do you agree with the most and why?

Here's Laura: "The women's movement was mostly united in its goals.

" And Sofia: "The women's movement was divided over a number of issues.

" So who do you agree with, Laura or Sofia?

And why?

Pause here while you discuss this.

It's good to be back with you.

So how did you get on with that task, reading the views of Laura and Sofia and deciding who you agreed with the most and why?

If you agreed with Laura, your answer may include something like this.

I mostly agree with Laura as both suffragists and suffragettes agreed on the key principle of women having voting rights.

Although they had different tactics, their key message about female inequality was the same and was effectively publicized through the different methods they used.

Despite internal divisions within the WSPU, all suffragettes still had the same aim: women gaining suffrage.

If you agreed with Sofia, your answer may include something like this.

I mostly agree with Sofia as the women's suffrage movement was made up of a number of groups who did not even agree on the aim of their campaign.

Radical suffragettes hoped all women would gain the right to vote, but some women only hoped to gain equal rights with men.

The use of violence was controversial, and both suffragists and even some suffragettes became critical of these tactics.

Well done for explaining your answer, whether you agreed with Laura or Sofia.

Well done for having a go at this task.

In our lesson, "The suffragettes," we've covered the following.

The lack of progress made by the suffragists led Emmeline Pankhurst to create the WSPU in 1903.

The suffragettes were willing to use more radical tactics than the suffragists in order to gain female suffrage.

The actions of the suffragettes became more violent and radical as their campaign progressed, especially after their headquarters moved from Manchester to London in 1906.

There were divisions within the WSPU and the wider women's suffrage movement over how radical their tactics should be and which types of women should gain suffrage.

Well done, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

I think this is a particularly important area of history for us to remember and to be grateful for the struggles and sacrifices made by the suffragists and suffragettes in order for women to have equal voting rights.

I'll always be thankful for them.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson.

I really enjoyed teaching you, and I look forward to seeing you at another lesson soon.

Bye for now.