Learn about the brave women who fought for the right to vote in early 20th-century Britain.
In the early 20th century, women in Britain had no right to vote in general elections — a situation many women and men believed was profoundly unjust. Two groups fought to change this. The Suffragists, led by Millicent Fawcett, campaigned peacefully through petitions, marches and lobbying. The Suffragettes, organised under Emmeline Pankhurst and the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), took more dramatic action — chaining themselves to railings, smashing windows, setting fire to post boxes and going on hunger strike when imprisoned. Their famous motto was ‘Deeds, not words’. One of the most tragic moments came in 1913 when Emily Wilding Davison died after stepping in front of the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby. During World War One, women took on vital roles in factories and farms, which helped shift public opinion. In 1918, women over 30 who met certain property requirements were finally granted the vote. Full equal voting rights for women and men came in 1928.
