Suffragette Hunger Strike 1909

Suffragette Hunger Strike 1909 was a pivotal event in the women's suffrage movement led by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters, including Christabel Pankhurst and Sylvia Pankhurst, who were part of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). The strike involved prominent suffragettes like Marie Stopes, Nina Boyle, and Lady Constance Bulwer-Lytton, who were fighting for the right to vote alongside men, as advocated by Millicent Fawcett and the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). This movement drew support from various individuals, including Keir Hardie, George Lansbury, and Henry Nevinson, who were associated with the Labour Party and the Independent Labour Party (ILP). The suffragettes were also influenced by the works of John Stuart Mill, Harriet Taylor Mill, and Mary Wollstonecraft, who were key figures in the History of feminism.

Introduction

The Suffragette Hunger Strike of 1909 was a significant protest that took place in Holloway Prison, where many suffragettes, including Annie Kenney, Mary Leigh, and Charlotte Marsh, were imprisoned for their involvement in the Women's suffrage movement in the United Kingdom. The strike was inspired by the Irish republican movement, particularly the hunger strikes of Thomas Ashe and Terence MacSwiney, and was supported by various organizations, such as the Women's Freedom League (WFL) and the Church League for Women's Suffrage (CLWS). The event drew attention from notable figures like Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George, and Herbert Henry Asquith, who were part of the Liberal Party government. The suffragettes also received support from international figures, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Alice Paul, who were prominent in the Women's suffrage in the United States.

Background

The Women's suffrage movement in the United Kingdom had been gaining momentum since the late 19th century, with the formation of organizations like the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) and the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). Key figures like Emmeline Pankhurst, Christabel Pankhurst, and Sylvia Pankhurst played a crucial role in organizing protests and demonstrations, including the Women's Sunday event in Hyde Park, London, which was attended by thousands of people, including George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells. The movement drew inspiration from the works of John Stuart Mill, Harriet Taylor Mill, and Mary Wollstonecraft, and was supported by various individuals, including Keir Hardie, George Lansbury, and Henry Nevinson, who were associated with the Labour Party and the Independent Labour Party (ILP). The suffragettes also received support from international figures, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Alice Paul, who were prominent in the Women's suffrage in the United States.

The Hunger Strike

The hunger strike began on July 24, 1909, when Marie Stopes and other suffragettes, including Nina Boyle and Lady Constance Bulwer-Lytton, refused to eat in protest of their imprisonment and the government's refusal to grant them political prisoner status. The strike was supported by various organizations, including the Women's Freedom League (WFL) and the Church League for Women's Suffrage (CLWS), and drew attention from notable figures like Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George, and Herbert Henry Asquith, who were part of the Liberal Party government. The suffragettes, including Annie Kenney, Mary Leigh, and Charlotte Marsh, were force-fed by the prison authorities, leading to widespread criticism and public outcry, with support from individuals like George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells. The event was also influenced by the Irish republican movement, particularly the hunger strikes of Thomas Ashe and Terence MacSwiney.

Government Response

The government, led by Herbert Henry Asquith and Winston Churchill, responded to the hunger strike by introducing the Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill Health) Act 1913, also known as the Cat and Mouse Act, which allowed for the temporary release of hunger-striking prisoners, including Marie Stopes and Nina Boyle, when their health began to deteriorate. However, this act was widely criticized by the suffragettes, including Emmeline Pankhurst and Christabel Pankhurst, and their supporters, including Keir Hardie and George Lansbury, who argued that it was a tactic to avoid granting them political prisoner status. The government's response was also influenced by the Liberal Party's internal divisions, with some members, like David Lloyd George, supporting the suffragettes' cause, while others, like Reginald McKenna, opposed it. The event drew attention from international figures, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Alice Paul, who were prominent in the Women's suffrage in the United States.

Aftermath and Impact

The Suffragette Hunger Strike of 1909 had a significant impact on the Women's suffrage movement in the United Kingdom, drawing attention to the cause and garnering public support, with notable figures like George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells speaking out in favor of the suffragettes. The event also led to the formation of new organizations, such as the East London Federation of Suffragettes (ELFS), and the radicalization of existing ones, like the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). The strike's legacy can be seen in the subsequent hunger strikes and protests, including those led by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian independence movement, and the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, which was influenced by the works of Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. The suffragettes, including Emmeline Pankhurst and Christabel Pankhurst, continued to fight for the right to vote, eventually achieving partial suffrage in 1918 with the Representation of the People Act 1918, and full suffrage in 1928 with the Equal Franchise Act 1928.

Key Figures Involved

Key figures involved in the Suffragette Hunger Strike of 1909 included Emmeline Pankhurst, Christabel Pankhurst, and Sylvia Pankhurst, who were part of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). Other notable figures included Marie Stopes, Nina Boyle, and Lady Constance Bulwer-Lytton, who were imprisoned for their involvement in the strike, and Annie Kenney, Mary Leigh, and Charlotte Marsh, who were also part of the WSPU. The event drew support from various individuals, including Keir Hardie, George Lansbury, and Henry Nevinson, who were associated with the Labour Party and the Independent Labour Party (ILP), as well as international figures like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Alice Paul, who were prominent in the Women's suffrage in the United States. The suffragettes also received support from notable figures like George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells, who were influential in the Fabian Society and the Socialist movement.

Category:Women's suffrage