15.2.1

The Suffragists (NUWSS)

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The Campaign for Women’s Suffrage

Women started campaigning to gain the vote in the 1800s.

Women's voting

Women's voting

  • By the start of the 20th century, members of Parliament (MPs) were under more pressure to give women the vote.
  • Between 1906 and 1913, new laws to give women the vote were put to parliament six times.
    • The proposals failed each time.
Early suffrage efforts

Early suffrage efforts

  • In 1866, campaigners set up a petition demanding votes for women.
    • The petition gained 1500 signatures but was rejected.
  • In 1867, Lydia Becker formed the Manchester Society for Women's Suffrage.
    • Similar societies across England in Scotland were set up in places such as London, Bristol, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
    • The separate groups kept the campaign going by organising more petitions, writing, and lecturing.
The Suffragists (NUWSS)

The Suffragists (NUWSS)

  • In 1897, Millicent Fawcett linked all the different suffrage organisations into the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS).
  • The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) was a national organisation.
  • The NUWSS were known as the suffragists.
    • The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) was democratic with members electing the president and committee.
    • Fawcett was president of the NUWSS for more than 20 years.
Expansion of NUWSS

Expansion of NUWSS

  • By 1914, the NUWSS had over 400 branches and 100,000 members.
    • The membership was mainly middle class women, but also included working class women particularly in the North of England.
    • Men were allowed to join and a few did.
    • The NUWSS focused on using peaceful methods such as holding talks and lectures, writing letters and petitions.
  • In 1907, they organised a procession of 3000 in London.
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