Alice Maud Shipley facts for kids

Alice Maud Shipley (born June 5, 1869 – died December 16, 1951) was a brave woman who fought for women's right to vote. She was a member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), a group that worked hard to get women the right to vote. Alice was even sent to prison for her actions. While in prison, she went on a hunger strike and was force-fed. Because of her courage, she received a special Hunger Strike Medal from the WSPU.

Alice was born in Higham Ferrers, England, in 1869. She was the oldest of three children. Her mother was a dressmaker, and her father worked in a shoe factory. Alice followed in her mother's footsteps and became a dressmaker too. Later, around 1901, she moved to Scotland and worked as a lady's maid.

Fighting for Women's Rights

Alice Maud Shipley believed strongly that women should have the same voting rights as men. This belief led her to join the WSPU, a group of women known as suffragettes. They used different methods, sometimes even protests and demonstrations, to make their voices heard.

Protests and Arrests

On November 21, 1911, Alice was one of many women arrested during a WSPU protest near the House of Commons in London. She had traveled from Edinburgh, Scotland, with other suffragettes to join the demonstration. The protest happened after a bill that would have given some women the right to vote, called the "Conciliation Bill," failed to pass. Alice was later released without any charges.

However, Alice was arrested again in March 1912. This time, it was during a protest where some suffragettes broke windows in the West End of London to draw attention to their cause. Alice appeared in court and refused to promise she wouldn't protest again. Because of this, she was sentenced to four months in Holloway Prison.

Courage in Prison

While in Holloway Prison, Alice Maud Shipley showed incredible bravery. She went on a hunger strike, refusing to eat to protest her imprisonment and the government's refusal to give women the vote. Because of this, she was force-fed, which means food was forced into her body.

Alice was also one of the women who signed The Suffragette Handkerchief. This handkerchief was a symbol of their defiance and unity while in prison. After she was released from prison in June 1912, the leaders of the WSPU gave her a special Hunger Strike Medal for her courage.

Later Life

Alice Maud Shipley passed away in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1951. She was buried in a family plot in Biggar, South Lanarkshire. Her memorial stone mentions her as a "faithful friend" of the Pairman family for almost 60 years.

Images for kids

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  A suffragette window smashing campaign

See Also

In Spanish: Alice Maud Shipley para niños