The issue of votes for women in Scotland goes back
to at least the early 19th century. However, it was only after the 2nd Reform
Act (1868 in Scotland) that the movement here, as in the rest of Britain, began
to grow.
At first the protest was peaceful - the women concentrating
on petitions, letters and public speaking to make their voices heard. Sources
A, B and C are examples of this.
There are three sources to study in
this section.
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| Source 2A | | |
| Source 2A shows
an advert for a public meeting held in Orkney in 1871.
The speaker had
travelled from Galloway, at the other end of the country. This shows the effort
and distance women were prepared to go to get their message across. The Orkney
herald went on to produce a detailed full-page report on this meeting.
Click to enlarge the image, then answer the following question.
Questions
- Note down three peaceful methods of protest mentioned in the source.
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| Source 2B | | |
| Source 2B is from
the minutes of Kirkwall Town Council in 1886. It shows discussion of a letter
asking the Town Council at Kirkwall to show its support for a franchise bill in
1886.
Click to enlarge the image, then answer the following questions.
Questions
- What did the writers of the letter want
Kirkwall Town Council to do?
- How did Kirkwall Town Council respond
to the letter?
- How useful is source B2 as evidence of the methods
used by suffragists to get the vote in the late 19th century? Give reasons for
your answer relating to the source of evidence.
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| Source 2C | | |
| Source 2C is a
leaflet promoting a sale of work in London. It was produced by the Women's Freedom
League in 1908 and shows how some women tried to peacefully campaign for the vote
through sales of work.
Click to enlarge the image, then answer the following
questions.
Questions
- What two reasons does
this source give for holding a sale of work?
- What donations
are requested?
- Why do you think a "Holloway Cell" would be one
of the attractions at the sale of work?
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