Women's Social and Political Union

British political movement founded in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst to organize a militant crusade for female suffrage.

In 1909, faced with government indifference, the WSPU embarked on a campaign of window smashing, telephone-wire cutting, and arson of public buildings. This civil disobedience had little result and was overtaken by the outbreak of World War I. In November 1917, the WSPU became the Women's Party led by Emmeline's daughter Christabel Pankhurst.