What were the main differences between the suffragettes and the suffragists?
… away from the Suffragists to form the Suffragettes who used a much more direct approach in their campaign for women’s suffrage. The Suffragists believed in constitutional campaigning. They argued their case with MP’s, issued leaflets, presented petitions and organised meetings. They thought that they would only be taken seriously if they stuck to legal tactics. They also proved to have concerns for other causes too. For example, they helped Josephine Butler in her white slave traffic campaign. The Suffragettes believed in much more direct action. Their motto was ‘Deeds not Words’. They thought that all the talking and peaceful protests that were being used by the NUWSS were just not working, and that their campaign should be more militant. The Suffragettes were a lot more violent and favoured such things as throwing stones at the prime ministers house and smashing windows to get themselves noticed. On one hand the Suffragists favoured peaceful protests …
