1. Cartoon group - Were the Suffragettes taken seriously? (Student)
In the early 1900s the newspapers in Britain were often discussing the actions of militant activists who wanted female suffrage, or votes for women. The campaign for women’s suffrage went back well into the 1800s and was organised by the National Union of Women’s suffrage Societies (NUWSS), generally known as the Suffragists.   However, despite all their peaceful and legal campaigning by the early 1900s the Suffragists had not achieved their aims. In 1903 Emmeline Pankhurst formed a new organisation to campaign for women’s suffrage. This organisation was the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). Pankhurst and the other WSPU members believed that they needed to take more radical, militant action as well as the legal action of the Suffragists.   The new organisation interrupted party political meetings and harassed ministers, especially the Prime Minister Herbert Asquith. Their actions certainly gained them publicity and the Daily Mail newspaper called them the Suffragettes.   As historians look back on the campaign for women’s suffrage, debate still goes on about the Suffragettes. What kind of impact did they really have? Were they taken seriously? Did they help or hinder the campaign for the vote? In this lesson we have five cartoons about the Suffragettes. At first sight it looks as though they were not taken seriously, but is that really what they tell us?   You are going to: Work out the message of each cartoon. Ask what it reveals about the cartoonist’s views on the Suffragettes. Consider whether this tells us anything about what society in general thought about the Suffragettes. Debate how we interpret this small collection of cartoons, particularly in terms of what they reveal about the impact of the Suffragettes. Decide what questions remain unanswered Make a plan to answer them!
This document was created at The British Cartoon Archive -

2. Record code: WH0519 Votes and violence [on reverse]
CARTOON CAPTION: Votes and Violence   1 In this cartoon, does the cartoonist seem to approve or disapprove of the Suffragettes? 2 What incidents involving the Suffragettes does the cartoon show? 3 Was the cartoonists’ intention to show what the Suffragettes were doing or to show what he thinks of what the Suffragettes were doing? 4 Which of these do you think is the best summary of the cartoonist’s message: ·         Women should get the vote, but not women like the Suffragettes. ·         Women should not get the vote. ·         The Suffragettes are stupid. ·         The Suffragettes should not be taken seriously. ·         The Sufragette’s methods are damaging women’s chances of getting the vote. ·         All women should get the vote. 5 Once you have decided, select details from the source which support your argument. 6 If you can, see if you can find other evidence (eg examples of Suffragettes doing things shown in the cartoon) to support your argument. 7 Finally, would you say this source is most useful to a historian … ·         … as evidence of the impact of suffragette actions on this cartoonist? ·         … as evidence of the impact of suffragette actions on society more generally? ·         … as evidence that the Suffragettes were achieving their aims? ·         … as evidence that the Suffragettes were damaging their own cause? ·         … as evidence of attitudes towards women generally? ·         … as evidence of something else?
Votes and violence [on reverse]
W.K. Haselden : Daily Mirror(c) The British Cartoon Archive
This document was created at The British Cartoon Archive -

3. Record code: WH0521
CARTOON CAPTION: Suggestions for Suffragettes - How to really get the vote   1 In this cartoon, does the cartoonist seem to approve or disapprove of the Suffragettes? 2 In this cartoon, the cartoonist is apparently saying this is what the Suffragettes should be doing to get the vote. Do you think he really means that? 3 Was the cartoonists’ intention to show what the Suffragettes were doing or to show what he thinks of what the Suffragettes were doing? 4 Which of these do you think is the best summary of the cartoonist’s message: ·         Women should get the vote, but not women like the Suffragettes. ·         The Suffragettes are stupid. ·         The Suffragettes should not be taken seriously. ·         Women should not get the vote. ·         The Suffragette’s methods are damaging women’s chances of getting the vote. ·         All women should get the vote. 5 Once you have decided, select two details from the source which support your argument. 6 If you can, see if you can find other evidence (eg examples of Suffragettes doing things shown in the cartoon) to support your argument. 7 Finally, would you say this source is most useful to a historian … ·         … as evidence of the impact of suffragette actions on this cartoonist? ·         … as evidence of the impact of suffragette actions on society more generally? ·         … as evidence that the Suffragettes were achieving their aims? ·         … as evidence that the Suffragettes were damaging their own cause? ·         … as evidence of attitudes towards women generally? ·         … as evidence of something else?
Suggestions for Suffragettes - How to really get the vote [on reverse]
W.K. Haselden : Daily Mirror(c) The British Cartoon Archive
This document was created at The British Cartoon Archive -

4. Record code: WH0530
CARTOON CAPTION: Some suggested disguises for Suffragettes   1 In this cartoon, does the cartoonist seem to approve or disapprove of the Suffragettes? 2 In this cartoon, the cartoonist is apparently trying to give advice to Suffragettes on disguises they could use. Why would Suffragettes use disguises? (Hint – something to do with ministers). 3 Was the cartoonists’ intention to show what the Suffragettes were doing or to show what he thinks of what the Suffragettes were doing? 4 Which of these do you think is the best summary of the cartoonist’s message: ·         The Suffragettes need better disguises. ·         The Suffragettes are stupid. ·         The Suffragettes should not be taken seriously. ·         Women should not get the vote. ·         The Suffragettes are damaging women’s chances of getting the vote by harassing ministers. ·         All women should get the vote. 5 Once you have decided, select two details from the source which support your argument. 6 If you can, see if you can find other evidence (eg examples of Suffragettes doing things shown in the cartoon) to support your argument. 7 Finally, would you say this source is most useful to a historian … ·         … as evidence of the impact of suffragette actions on this cartoonist? ·         … as evidence of the impact of suffragette actions on society more generally? ·         … as evidence that the Suffragettes were achieving their aims? ·         … as evidence that the Suffragettes were damaging their own cause? ·         … as evidence of attitudes towards women generally? … as evidence of something else?
Some suggested disguises for suffragettes [on reverse]
W.K. Haselden : Daily Mirror(c) The British Cartoon Archive
This document was created at The British Cartoon Archive -

5. Record code: WH0827
CARTOON CAPTION: Some useful strikes that women might adopt   1 Is this cartoon about the Suffragettes or more about women in general? 2 In this cartoon, the cartoonist is commenting on the fact that a number of Suffragettes had gone on hunger strike. He is suggesting other types of strikes women could go on to get the vote. How serious is he? 3 Was the cartoonists’ intention to show what the Suffragettes were doing? 4 Which of these do you think is the best summary of the cartoonist’s message: ·         Women should get the vote, but not women like the Suffragettes. ·         The Suffragettes are stupid. ·         The Suffragettes should not be taken seriously. ·         Women should not get the vote. ·         The Suffragette’s methods are damaging women’s chances of getting the vote. ·         All women should get the vote ·         If it is none of these, what is the cartoonist saying about women? 5 Once you have decided, select two details from the source which support your argument. 6 If you can, see if you can find other evidence to support your argument. 7 Finally, would you say this source is most useful to a historian … ·         … as evidence of the impact of suffragette actions on this cartoonist? ·         … as evidence of the impact of suffragette actions on society more generally? ·         … as evidence that the Suffragettes were achieving their aims? ·         … as evidence that the Suffragettes were damaging their own cause? ·         … as evidence of attitudes towards women generally? ·         … as evidence of something else?
Some useful strikes that women might adopt [on reverse]
W.K. Haselden : Daily Mirror(c) The British Cartoon Archive
This document was created at The British Cartoon Archive -

6. Record code: WH1459
CARTOON CAPTION: To guard against Suffragette outrages   1 In this cartoon, does the cartoonist seem to approve or disapprove of the Suffragettes? 2 Why is the guard taking the actions he is taking? 3 Was the cartoonist making a serious point in this cartoon or just making a joke? 4 Which of these do you think is the best summary of the cartoonist’s message: ·         The Suffragettes are dangerous. ·         The Suffragettes should not be taken seriously. ·         Women should not get the vote. ·         The Suffragette’s methods are damaging women’s chances of getting the vote. ·         All women should get the vote. ·         Some other message. 5 Once you have decided, select two details from the source which support your argument. 6 If you can, see if you can find other evidence (eg examples of Suffragettes doing things shown in the cartoon) to support your argument. 7 Finally, would you say this source is most useful to a historian … ·         … as evidence of the impact of suffragette actions on this cartoonist? ·         … as evidence of the impact of suffragette actions on society more generally? ·         … as evidence that the Suffragettes were achieving their aims? ·         … as evidence that the Suffragettes were damaging their own cause? ·         … as evidence of attitudes towards women generally? ·         … as evidence of something else?
To guard against Suffragette Outrages. [on reverse]
W.K. Haselden : Daily Mirror(c) The British Cartoon Archive
This document was created at The British Cartoon Archive -