Cat and Mouse Act

Definition

The Cat and Mouse Act, officially known as the Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill Health) Act 1913, was a British law that allowed for the temporary release of suffragettes who were on hunger strikes. This legislation was an attempt to address the ongoing hunger strikes of women imprisoned for their activism in the women's suffrage movement, essentially letting authorities control the situation while also avoiding the responsibility of allowing prisoners to die in custody.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Cat and Mouse Act was introduced as a response to the hunger strikes being carried out by suffragettes like Emmeline Pankhurst, who were imprisoned for their activism.
2. Under this act, women would be released when they became too weak from hunger strikes and then re-arrested once they regained strength, creating a cycle of incarceration.
3. The act was seen as a way for the government to manage the suffragette crisis without conceding to their demands for voting rights.
4. Many suffragettes viewed the Cat and Mouse Act as a form of psychological manipulation and continued their protests despite its implications.
5. The law remained in effect until 1914, when the outbreak of World War I shifted public focus away from women's suffrage towards wartime efforts.

Review Questions

• How did the Cat and Mouse Act impact the strategies employed by suffragettes during their fight for voting rights?
  • The Cat and Mouse Act significantly influenced the strategies of suffragettes by forcing them to adapt their tactics in response to this new legislation. Many women continued hunger strikes as a means of protest, understanding that the government could not allow them to die in prison. This led to increased militancy among some activists who sought to expose the government's treatment of prisoners while drawing public attention to their cause. Ultimately, it also intensified the urgency behind their fight for women's suffrage.
• Analyze how public perception of suffragettes changed due to the implementation of the Cat and Mouse Act.
  • The implementation of the Cat and Mouse Act had a mixed impact on public perception of suffragettes. While some people viewed it as an oppressive measure against women fighting for their rights, others believed it demonstrated that authorities were taking action against what they perceived as radical behavior. This law brought attention to the conditions that suffragettes faced, which led to greater sympathy from certain sectors of society. Consequently, public awareness grew regarding their plight, ultimately influencing support for women's voting rights.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the Cat and Mouse Act on the women's suffrage movement in Britain and its eventual success.
  • The long-term effects of the Cat and Mouse Act on the women's suffrage movement were significant in both mobilizing support and shaping tactics. The act not only highlighted the extremes that women were willing to go to for their rights but also exposed the government's unwillingness to address their demands directly. This led to increased public discourse around women's rights and eventually contributed to a broader acceptance of women's suffrage in society. As World War I unfolded, many women took on roles traditionally held by men, further solidifying arguments for equality and leading to partial success in securing voting rights in 1918.

Related terms

Suffragette: A woman who actively worked for women's right to vote, often through militant actions and protests during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Hunger Strike: A form of protest where individuals refuse to eat to draw attention to their cause or demand changes, commonly used by suffragettes to highlight their struggle for voting rights.

Militant Tactics: The use of aggressive or confrontational methods by suffragettes, including protests, property damage, and hunger strikes, to advance the cause of women's suffrage.