History explainer: the 'votes for women' campaign

Summary

In the mid-1800s, women in Britain had few rights, including the inability to vote or hold certain professions. The suffrage movement, led by suffragists and later suffragettes, campaigned for women’s right to vote. Early efforts included petitions and parliamentary discussions, but significant progress was slow. Frustrated, Emmeline Pankhurst and others adopted more militant tactics, such as protests and hunger strikes. After the First World War, the campaign saw success, with women gaining the right to vote in 1918 and full equality achieved in 1928. This long struggle highlighted the fight for gender equality and the power of determination in achieving social change.

Takeaways

• 😀 Women in Britain in the mid-1800s had few rights, little education, and no access to many professions.
• 😀 Married women had no control over their earnings or property, as everything belonged to their husbands.
• 😀 Women were denied the right to vote, meaning they had no say in national decisions affecting their lives.
• 😀 The suffrage movement began in the mid-1800s with campaigners known as suffragists, advocating for women's right to vote.
• 😀 Both women and men participated in the campaign for votes for women, with key moments like Elizabeth Garrett Anderson's petition in 1866.
• 😀 In 1867, John Stuart Mill raised the issue of women's suffrage in Parliament, but the law did not change.
• 😀 The suffragists used leaflets, public meetings, and marches to gather support for the campaign across Britain.
• 😀 The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies was formed in 1897, becoming the largest organization for women's suffrage under Millicent Garrett Fawcett's leadership.
• 😀 The suffragists' peaceful campaign was met with frustration, leading to the formation of the more militant Women's Social and Political Union in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst.
• 😀 The suffragettes, as the campaigners became known, engaged in acts of protest like breaking windows, setting fires, and damaging artworks, risking imprisonment and participating in hunger strikes.
• 😀 The women's suffrage movement paused during World War I, encouraging women to support the war effort, but resumed in 1918 when women gained the right to vote.
• 😀 By 1928, the voting rights of men and women were equalized, with all citizens over 21 granted the right to vote, marking the end of a 50-year campaign for women's suffrage.

Q & A

What was life like for women in Britain in the mid-1800s?

In the mid-1800s, women in Britain had very few rights. They had limited access to education, were unable to work in many professions such as doctors, lawyers, or politicians, and if they married, their property and earnings belonged to their husbands. They also did not have the right to vote.

What was the suffrage movement, and who were the campaigners?

The suffrage movement aimed to secure the right to vote for women. The campaigners, known as suffragists, were individuals from various walks of life who worked together to bring about change, including both women and supportive men.

What event in 1866 contributed to the suffrage movement?

In 1866, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Emily Davies delivered a petition to the House of Commons, calling for a change in the law to give women the right to vote. Over 1,500 women signed the petition, marking an important step in the suffrage movement.

How did John Stuart Mill contribute to the suffrage movement?

In 1867, John Stuart Mill raised the issue of women’s suffrage in Parliament. Although his efforts gained support from many MPs, it was not enough to change the law at that time. However, his actions helped bring the issue into public discourse.

What role did the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies play?

The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, formed in 1897 with Millicent Garrett Fawcett as its leader, became the largest organization campaigning for women’s right to vote. It used peaceful methods like leaflets, public meetings, and marches to gather support.

What led to the formation of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU)?

In 1903, Emmeline Pankhurst, frustrated by the lack of progress from the peaceful suffragist campaigns, formed the Women’s Social and Political Union in Manchester, alongside her daughters. The WSPU aimed to use more militant tactics to gain attention for the cause.

How did the suffragettes' campaign differ from the suffragists’ campaign?

While suffragists employed peaceful methods, the suffragettes, led by the WSPU, adopted more militant tactics, including breaking shop windows, setting fires, and damaging artworks. Their motto was 'deeds not words,' emphasizing direct action.

What was the significance of the attack on the portrait of Thomas Carlyle?

The attack on the portrait of Thomas Carlyle at the National Portrait Gallery was one of the suffragettes' protests. The event led to the release of surveillance photos of known suffragettes, taken without their knowledge, showcasing the intensifying conflict between the suffragettes and the authorities.

How did the suffragettes protest while imprisoned?

Many suffragettes, when arrested and sent to prison, continued their protest by refusing to eat, which led to hunger strikes. This form of protest highlighted their commitment to the cause and drew further attention to their demands.

What was the impact of World War I on the women’s suffrage movement?

When World War I broke out in 1914, the women’s suffrage movement paused its campaign and encouraged women to support the war effort. This shift in focus was partly due to the belief that women’s contributions to the war would strengthen their case for voting rights.

When were women granted the right to vote in Britain, and what were the conditions?

In 1918, women in Britain were granted the right to vote, but initially, this was limited to those over the age of 30 who met certain property requirements. In 1928, the voting rights were extended to all men and women over the age of 21, regardless of property ownership.

How long did the suffrage campaign take, and what was its significance?

The suffrage campaign took over 50 years and involved thousands of people. It was significant because it resulted in the legal recognition of women’s right to vote and was a crucial part of the broader struggle for equal rights between men and women.