Speeches and trials of the militant suffragettes

the long version

The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was the most controversial militant branch of the British women's suffrage movement. From 1903-1918, WSPU members made numerous public speeches, both in rented halls and in the open air, and many were brought to trial for their political activities. This collection of speeches and trial transcripts documents the WSPU from its founding through its turn to violent tactics to the winning of the vote in 1918. An introduction to each section summarizes Union activity over discrete periods, outlining the major verbal arguments and images for that time frame. These introductions, combined with the speeches and several trial transcripts, provide a chronological view of WSPU history.