Ladies! Stand Up For Your Rights! Quiz

Answer: Millicent Fawcett

Born on June 11th, 1847, Millicent Fawcett believed in constitutional campaigning, which involved issuing leaflets and organising petitions and meetings. Unfortunately, this campaigning had very little effect. In 1903, the more radical Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was founded by Emmeline Pankhurst.

While Elsie Inglis, Jane Harrison and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence were all involved in the British suffrage movements, they never actually led any of the campaign groups.

'Suffragist' is the general word used to describe all people taking part in suffrage movements, while 'Suffragette' is the word used to describe members of the more radical groups.

Answer: Yes

While most believed women were unable to think as logically as men, there were some men who believed women deserved the right to vote. One was John Mill who, in 1865, had supported the idea of women's suffrage.

Answer: 1912

This was the year when they began using tactics which included arson and chaining themselves to various things in public places. As a result, a number of suffragettes ended up in prison.

Answer: hunger strike

After a 91-hour hunger strike, the decision was made to release Miss Dunlop due to ill health, but it wasn't long before other Suffragettes began refusing food. Knowing they could be held responsible for any deaths that may occur due to these hunger strikes, prisons began the practice of force-feeding.

Answer: internal injuries after being trampled by a horse

This incident occurred at the Epsom Derby on July 4th, 1913. It's unclear why Miss Davison ran onto the middle of the racetrack, but it's believed she was attempting to attach a 'Votes for Women' flag to one of the horses when she fell and was trampled. She sustained a fractured skull and other internal injuries and died in hospital four days later.

The traditional view that it was suicide is widely challenged.

Answer: board games

The board game was titled 'Pank-A-Squith' and was sold to raise both money and awareness of women's suffrage. Visitors to the People's History Museum in Manchester, England, can see one of these board games on display as well as being able to play a replica version.

Answer: green, white, purple

White signified purity, purple signified dignity and green signified hope. These colours were displayed on various items, including flags and badges.

Answer: 1000

The first suffragettes to be imprisoned were Annie Kenney and Emmeline Pankhurst's daughter, Christabel (October 1905). Most of the early incarcerations were for minor offences, such as failure to pay outstanding fines. Whilst in prison, suffragettes protested for the right to be seen as political prisoners. This would have given them certain liberties such as being allowed to write books, newspaper articles and have frequent visits.

It was the Government's refusal to recognise them as political prisoners that led to many suffragettes going on hunger strikes.

Answer: a women's society called 'The Bodyguard' was formed

The passing of the act in April 1913 made prison hunger strikes legal. Therefore, suffragettes would be temporarily released when their health diminished, only to be sent back to prison when they regained good health. In direct response to this, the Women's Social and Political Union formed a society of women called 'The Bodyguard'. Their job was to protect prominent suffragettes from arrest and assault.


The other societies listed are fictional.

Answer: 1918

With the onset of the First World War, the suffrage movements slowed down as women stopped protesting for their right to vote and instead helped with the war effort. In August 1914, all women imprisoned for taking part in suffrage activities were released.

They earned public respect though their focus on war work and, in February 1918, the Representation of the People Act was passed, which allowed all women aged thirty and over the right to vote. In 1928 the act was extended to allow voting rights for all women over the age of twenty-one.