Introduction to Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst was a very important woman in British history. She was born in Manchester in 1858. Emmeline worked hard to help women get the right to vote. This was a time when women were not allowed to vote in elections, and she wanted to change that.
Early Activism
In 1889, she started the Women’s Franchise League. This group aimed to allow married women to vote in local elections. Emmeline believed that women should have a say in their government.
The Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU)
In 1903, Emmeline helped to create the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). This group was the first to use the term suffragettes for its members. The WSPU used peaceful protests at first, but then they began to use more forceful methods to get attention.
Civil Disobedience
The suffragettes used civil disobedience to protest for women’s voting rights. For example, they:
- Chained themselves to railings
- Smashed windows
- Committed arson (setting fire to buildings)
Many suffragettes, including Emmeline, also went on hunger strikes to protest when they were imprisoned.
Achievements
In 1918, the government changed the law. Women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote and could stand for Parliament. This change happened partly because women had helped a lot during the First World War.
Just before Emmeline died in 1928, a new law was passed. This law allowed women to vote at the same age as men, which was 21 years old.
Summary
Emmeline Pankhurst was a key figure in the fight for women’s rights in the UK. Her determination and actions helped pave the way for women to have a voice in politics.
Questions
Easy Level Questions
- Where was Emmeline Pankhurst born?
- A) London
- B) Manchester
- C) Birmingham
- D) Liverpool
- What did Emmeline Pankhurst help to set up in 1889?
- A) The Women’s Social and Political Union
- B) The Women’s Franchise League
- C) The Labour Party
- D) The Equal Rights Group
- What term was used for the members of the WSPU?
- A) Activists
- B) Feminists
- C) Suffragettes
- D) Campaigners
- What type of protest did the suffragettes use?
- A) Peaceful demonstrations
- B) Civil disobedience
- C) Petitions
- D) Voting
- In what year did women over 30 get the right to vote?
- A) 1914
- B) 1918
- C) 1920
- D) 1928
- What did suffragettes do to get attention for their cause?
- A) Wrote letters
- B) Chained themselves to railings
- C) Held tea parties
- D) Made speeches
- What was one method used by suffragettes when imprisoned?
- A) Writing books
- B) Going on hunger strikes
- C) Painting
- D) Voting
- What year did Emmeline Pankhurst die?
- A) 1920
- B) 1925
- C) 1928
- D) 1930
- What was a key reason women got the vote after the First World War?
- A) They asked politely
- B) They fought in the war
- C) They were all married
- D) They were men’s sisters
- What age were women allowed to vote in 1928?
- A) 18
- B) 21
- C) 30
- D) 35
Medium Level Questions
- What was the main goal of the Women’s Franchise League?
- A) To get married
- B) To help men vote
- C) To get the vote for married women in local elections
- D) To create jobs for women
- What does “civil disobedience” mean?
- A) Following all laws
- B) Refusing to follow certain laws peacefully
- C) Fighting with the police
- D) Ignoring the government
- Who did Emmeline Pankhurst work with in the WSPU?
- A) Only men
- B) Only women
- C) Both men and women
- D) Children
- What were some actions taken by the suffragettes besides chaining themselves?
- A) Writing essays
- B) Performing plays
- C) Smashed windows and committed arson
- D) Cooking meals
- Why was the year 1918 significant for women?
- A) They learned to read
- B) They got the right to vote and stand for Parliament
- C) They got jobs
- D) They had more children
- What did many suffragettes do to protest while in jail?
- A) Became friends with guards
- B) Went on hunger strikes
- C) Laughed and sang
- D) Tried to escape
- How did women contribute to the war effort during the First World War?
- A) By becoming soldiers
- B) By working in factories and serving in other roles
- C) By staying at home
- D) By cooking for the soldiers
- What was one reason some people opposed women voting?
- A) They thought women were too busy
- B) They thought women could not make good decisions
- C) They wanted women to have no rights
- D) All of the above
- How did Emmeline Pankhurst’s actions inspire others?
- A) They made people laugh
- B) They showed that women could fight for their rights
- C) They led to more rules against women
- D) They made no difference
- What did the term ‘suffragette’ mean?
- A) A woman who votes
- B) A woman who fights for the right to vote
- C) A woman who is married
- D) A woman who works
Hard Level Questions
- What were the main tactics used by the WSPU to gain public attention?
- A) Peaceful marches
- B) Civil disobedience and more extreme actions
- C) Writing articles
- D) Organising community events
- How did Emmeline Pankhurst’s actions during the war impact women’s suffrage?
- A) They had no impact
- B) They reduced support for women’s rights
- C) They helped to change public opinion and laws
- D) They made women less willing to fight
- What was the significance of the WSPU’s use of hunger strikes?
- A) It showed their commitment to the cause
- B) It made them more popular
- C) It was a way to gain sympathy from men
- D) It was a way to get food
- Why did some suffragettes resort to violent protests?
- A) They believed peaceful methods were not working
- B) They were angry
- C) They wanted to scare the government
- D) They didn’t understand the law
- In what ways did the First World War change women’s roles in society?
- A) Women went back to traditional roles
- B) Women took on jobs traditionally held by men
- C) Women stopped working
- D) Women became less active
- What was the public’s reaction to the suffragettes’ more extreme actions?
- A) They were always supportive
- B) They were often divided; some supported, some opposed
- C) Everyone ignored them
- D) They were punished
- Why was Emmeline Pankhurst’s work considered controversial?
- A) She was a woman
- B) Her methods were seen as extreme by some
- C) She was from Manchester
- D) She wore unusual clothes
- How did Emmeline’s background influence her activism?
- A) She had no background in activism
- B) She came from a politically engaged family
- C) She was wealthy and did not relate to common women
- D) She was a teacher
- What was the impact of the 1928 law on women’s rights?
- A) It limited women’s rights
- B) It equalised voting rights for women and men
- C) It made it harder for women to vote
- D) It had no impact
- How did Emmeline Pankhurst’s legacy influence future generations?
- A) It inspired future movements for equality
- B) It discouraged activism
- C) It was forgotten
- D) It only affected women in the UK
Answers and Explanations
Easy Level Answers
- B) Manchester
- B) The Women’s Franchise League
- C) Suffragettes
- B) Civil disobedience
- B) 1918
- B) Chained themselves to railings
- B) Going on hunger strikes
- C) 1928
- B) They fought in the war
- B) 21
Medium Level Answers
- C) To get the vote for married women in local elections
- B) Refusing to follow certain laws peacefully
- C) Both men and women
- C) Smashed windows and committed arson
- B) They got the right to vote and stand for Parliament
- B) Went on hunger strikes
- B) By working in factories and serving in other roles
- D) All of the above
- B) They showed that women could fight for their rights
- B) A woman who fights for the right to vote
Hard Level Answers
- B) Civil disobedience and more extreme actions
- C) They helped to change public opinion and laws
- A) It showed their commitment to the cause
- A) They believed peaceful methods were not working
- B) Women took on jobs traditionally held by men
- B) They were often divided; some supported, some opposed
- B) Her methods were seen as extreme by some
- B) She came from a politically engaged family
- B) It equalised voting rights for women and men
- A) It inspired future movements for equality
