militant suffragism

Militant suffragism refers to the more radical branch of the women's suffrage movement in the early 20th century, particularly in the UK. While many suffragists advocated for voting rights through peaceful protests and legal reforms, militant suffragists, such as the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) led by Emmeline Pankhurst, employed more confrontational tactics. These included marches, hunger strikes, and acts of civil disobedience, and sometimes vandalism. They believed that more aggressive actions were necessary to draw attention to their cause and pressure the government to grant women the right to vote.