The Suffragists (NUWSS)
History: KS3, topic 15.2.1
The Campaign for Women’s Suffrage
Women started campaigning to gain the vote in the 1800s.
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
- 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)
- 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
- 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.
Test yourself on The Suffragists (NUWSS)
How many times were the new laws for women's right to vote brought to parliament between 1906 and 1913?