"If men use explosives and bombs for their own purpose they call it war…Why should a woman not make use of the same weapons as men. It is not only war we have declared. We are fighting for a revolution!" This statement was made by Christabel Pankhurst, a woman with a major role in the militant suffrage movement and cofounder, alongside her daughter, Emmeline Pankhurst of the WSPU. In the early 1900's in England, women were belittled by their government, their husbands, and the press and decided that it was not an option to stay stagnant in the way they protested, but revolutionize it. The Women's Social and Political Union was formed by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters in 1903, as a result of the belief that "Deeds not words" were the fuel necessary to power a successful, and meaningful movement towards legal change. They were not weak belittled women, but strong, persistent fighters who wanted a change. The militant suffrage movement in England was the result of decades of stagnancy following traditional activism and can be characterized by extreme violence and persistence to the movement.
Militancy began because of the inability to attract attention from the press, the people and the government through traditional activism. Traditionally, in the past women have been granted very little freedom or recognition as even being a part of society, whether that be from the government, from the people, or the press. The press being newspapers such as The Herald, The Pall Mall Gazette, The Globe alongside many other well known writing companies made sure to give as little attention possible to the women's movements, rarely giving recognition of their accomplishments in the pieces they published. This made it extremely difficult to attract new supporters if all the population was able to read, was muted and biased toward anti-suffrage articles. In an article written by Mary Winsor, she says that "This inability to grasp the significance and extent of the woman suffrage movement is due to British insularity and to the deep rooted English habit of regarding women as inferior and subordinate beings whose activities are not important or of interest to the public." The papers, alongside a large portion of the English population were so glued to past tradition that they failed to see the other human side: the women. The newspaper's opinions were extremely influenced by the views of the government as well. A British Prime Minister, by the name Herbert Asquith, was a man of 'tradition' who failed the women similar to many other government officials. Emmeline states in her speech of 1913 that according to the "law courts of my country, it has been decided, [a woman] is of no value to the community at all." Asquith refused to acknowledge progress that had been made during the movement, refusing the passing of any bills that would bring the women from all sides of the movement, achievement. Emmeline states in her speech in 1913 Emmeline decided "That it has to face this alternative; either women are to be killed or women are to have the vote." The combined reaction of the feminists, to both the press' and the government's refusal to acknowledge women's rights, was the start of this militant, highly combative and determined suffrage movement.
Extreme violence incorporated into the demonstrations during the suffrage movement in England and defined the militant movement led by the WSPU. Both now, and during the early 1900's suffrage movement, violence is both thought of as necessary tactic, and a repulsive inhumane method to get things done. Millicent Fawcett who was another leader of the women's suffrage movement, and leader of the more peaceful and traditional organization, realized and made public both her opposition to the militancy, but also the fact that "[WSPU and militant suffrage groups] had done more during the last 12 months to bring [the movement] within the region of practical politics than we have been able to accomplish in the same number of years." Violent outbursts were the fuel that lit the flame under the protests led by the WSPU. The first strike of this violence was initiated by Emmeline Pankhurst's daughter, Christabel Pankhurst who like her mother, led the WSPU. During a meeting where many government officials were present, discussing current issues and pressing topics. It was at this point that Christabel decided to put women's suffrage up for discussion. The questioned the officials, ruthlessly, hoping for the reply they wanted: a vote. As expected, they were disregarded alongside their ideas. When they did not get what they had hoped for, spitting and hitting police commenced. This impulsive and aggressive reaction to rejection was a common occurrence. Later, once Asquith disappointed the suffragettes by shutting down a bill that would grant women the vote, the WSPU women alongside their supporters converted their indignation to the absolute demolition. This included buildings and other city aspects, using fire around the English City, hoping to persuade their opposition through the imposition of fright.
Another way the militant suffragettes used violence was through the destruction of historic British art and government owned property. In the year 1913, the women of the WSPU attacked the government through the destruction the Tower of London, a historically prevalent location and valuable part of the British culture. Another moment in time where violence was imposed on artwork was in 1914 when a painting was battered in the National Art gallery in England and a popular English gallery like garden was set fire. The list goes on when it comes to the destruction of famous locations and government owned property, and even reached the extent of trying to poison officials such as those working for the postal services. These acts of violence were ultimatums for the government that continually pressured them to cave under the actions of the suffragettes; it was either the vote or devastating annihilation that got closer and closer to direct infliction of violence on the government officials themselves.
Alongside the general, more open ended violence slightly directed at the government , the women part of the militant movement used violence in direct confrontation with their suppressors such as the Prime Minister and other lawmakers. In the early years of the suffrage movement, the militant suffrage movement participants, with the typical level of enragement, reacted to further disappointment regarding the movement by setting on fire David George's property, as he had a role in the neglect of women's voting rights. Other government officials with high public ranking such as Winston Churchill, a Prime Minister, Asquith. Winston Churchill alongside other prime minister and well known opposition to the suffrage movement, Herbert Asquith, were directly attacked by raging suffragettes during moments least expectancy, and beat with animal whips and in the case of Asquith, had his car battered by flying missiles other objects. This direct confrontation took a step further in demonstrating the urgency of the necessity of a vote for women. This violence initiated by the suffragettes was no longer just an 'at work' problem officials faced, but the entrance of fear and danger in their everyday personal lives. This applied more pressure onto those with power in their hands to include women in the vote and recognize them as not only mothers and those who cook dinners, but as people of the community.
Lastly, the militant suffrage movement in England can be characterized by extreme persistence and dedication to the movement's goal of a vote for all women. Arrests were a likely, repeating occurrence for those participating in the militant suffragette movement. Instead of being a factor that displayed the dissolute nature of these women, arrests proved the persistence and pure dedication of the suffragettes. Emmeline Pankhurst was particularly dedicated. Following her six week imprisonment as a result of of violence and disregard for authority's orders, she was released back into a world of constant demonstration. Instead of deciding to put her work for the WSPU on the backburner to avoid another six week, brutal