Suffragettes: Film content

This newsreel, hosted and narrated by Dennis James, includes a feature on the suffragette movement in the United States, with footage of the women marching, canvassing for political support and posing with President Warren Harding.

Historical context: Suffragette movement

The term “suffragettes” refers to the women who took up the fight for women’s suffrage in England more than 100 years ago. The word has to do with the English word “suffrage”.

The fight for women’s suffrage in England was largely characterised by the suffragettes and suffragists. This movement emerged at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century and played a decisive role in gaining women’s suffrage in the United Kingdom.

Suffragettes vs. suffragists:
Suffragettes: This group was known for their more radical methods. They were part of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), which was founded in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Christabel and Sylvia. The suffragists relied on direct action such as demonstrations, hunger strikes and sometimes even damage to property to attract attention to their cause.
Suffragists: This group relied on non-violent and legal means to achieve their goal. They were part of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), which was founded by Millicent Fawcett in 1897. The suffragists worked through lobbying, petitions and peaceful protests.

Important figures:
Emmeline Pankhurst: She was the leader of the WSPU and one of the best known suffragettes. Her determination and commitment to women’s rights made her a central figure in the movement.
Christabel Pankhurst: Emmeline’s daughter, who also played a leading role in the WSPU and was known for her strategic skills.
Millicent Fawcett: A leader of the NUWSS, she advocated a peaceful and legal approach. She was an instrumental figure in the fight for women’s suffrage and led the movement for several decades.

Methods and actions:
The suffragettes organised protest marches, gave speeches and tried to gain attention through civil disobedience. They also set fire to letterboxes and damaged property to spread their message.
The suffragists, on the other hand, worked through more conventional means such as lobbying politicians, collecting signatures and organising peaceful demonstrations.

Successes and milestones:
The first significant success came in 1918 with the Representation of the People Act, which granted women over the age of 30 who met certain property criteria the right to vote.
In 1928, women’s suffrage was extended to all women over the age of 21, regardless of property or other criteria, through the Equal Franchise Act.

The dedication and sacrifice of these women laid the foundation for later gender equality in the political sphere and is an important chapter in the history of women’s rights.