Suffragettes Essay

Submitted By square7square7
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Pages: 5

Suffragettes
In 1903, the votes-for-women movement exploded in the UK and US. The name of ‘suffragettes’ is often associated with the followers of the Women’s Social and Political Union. The term is also associated with acts of self-sacrifice, defiance and sometimes violence. Suffragettes carried out offences such as chaining themselves to railings, and setting fire to the contents of mailboxes. Many suffragettes were imprisoned and went on hunger strikes, during which they were restrained and forcibly fed. The government then introduced something called, ‘The Cat and Mouse Act’. This act was an attempt to stop suffragettes from getting public sympathy, by releasing those whose health condition got too serious and re-imprisoning them when they had recovered. During World War I there was a serious shortage of men, meaning that women were required to take on many traditional male roles. This lead to a new view of what a woman was capable of doing. In 1919, Parliament passed bill allowing women, over the age of 30, to vote. Women finally got to vote on the same terms as men in 1928.
Suffragettes
In 1903, the votes-for-women movement exploded in the UK and US. The name of ‘suffragettes’ is often associated with the followers of the Women’s Social and Political Union. The term is also associated with acts of self-sacrifice, defiance and sometimes violence. Suffragettes carried out offences such as chaining themselves to railings, and setting fire to the contents of mailboxes. Many suffragettes were imprisoned and went on hunger strikes, during which they were restrained and forcibly fed. The government then introduced something called, ‘The Cat and Mouse Act’. This act was an attempt to stop suffragettes from getting public sympathy, by releasing those whose health condition got too serious and re-imprisoning them when they had recovered. During World War I there was a serious shortage of men, meaning that women were required to take on many traditional male roles. This lead to a new view of what a woman was capable of doing. In 1919, Parliament passed bill allowing women, over the age of 30, to vote. Women finally got to vote on the same terms as men in 1928.
Rebecca Riots
In 1839-43, in the rural parts of west Wales, there were a series of protests made by farmers against the payment of tolls charged to use the roads. The first protest was on 6th June 1839, where Welsh farmers attacked a toll house, by burning it down. Groups of businessmen owned most of the main roads, meaning they chose how much to charge, and decided how many tollgates should be built. In these riots men disguised as women, attacked the tollgates. These men called themselves ‘Rebecca and her daughters.’ It is thought they called themselves this after Rebecca in the Bible. The roads were a big part of a farmers work in them times, as they used them to take their crops and animals to the market. Doing this would cost them as much as 5 shillings (25p), which was a lot for small farmers in them times.

Rebecca Riots
In 1839-43, in the rural parts of west Wales, there were a series of protests made by farmers against the payment of tolls charged to use the roads. The first protest was on 6th June 1839, where Welsh farmers attacked a toll house, by burning it down. Groups of businessmen owned most of the main roads, meaning they chose how much to charge, and decided how many tollgates should be built. In these riots men disguised as women, attacked the tollgates. These men called themselves ‘Rebecca and her daughters.’ It is thought they called themselves this after Rebecca in the Bible. The roads were a big part of a farmers work in them times, as they used them to take their crops and animals to the market. Doing this would cost them as much as 5 shillings (25p), which was a lot for small farmers in them times.

Chartists
A movement for social and political improvement in the UK started during the mid-19th century. A Chartism is thought to