Women’s Rights

In the 19th and the start of the 20th Women had no rights over themselves or their property and money. If they were to get married then all their property would go straight to their husbands. This would have left women no choice but to rely on their husbands because they would be homeless and helpless without one basically.
During the 19th century women campaigned for improvements to many aspects of their lives. One of the most successful campaigns was for better education. By the early nineteenth century most middle-class girls received a basic education. However, girls from working-class families often received no education at all. It was impossible for girls to go to university or college even if they did it would have been a waste of time. Due to the fact that most profeesion would refused entry to women. In the 19th century upper class and middle class women were not expected to earn their money they would reply on their husband. But working class women had to work because they couldn’t afford not to if they didn’t their family would starve. Women still worked as hard as the men did, but they weren’t paid the same. Women were paid less than men were.
Women weren’t too happy about the fact the men were seen as better. So groups like the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies were formed, They were led by a women called Millicent Fawcett. The aim of the NUWSS was to get the vote for middle class women first of all, they would use more of a peaceful approach than other groups that were to form later on. They would hold peace rallies, but the leader Millicent Fawcett realised that they had to fight for the working class as well. If they were to get anywhere, simply because it was a lot more working class than middle class women. Some women got frustrated by the lack of progress of the NUWSS, so a woman called Emmeline Pankhurst broke away from them and formed a group called the Women's Social and Political Union. Along with Christabel and Sylvia Pankhurst. They had also been a part of the NUWSS but didn’t like he progress being made. Women who joined this group were known as the suffragettes.
For a few years the WSPU did valuable propaganda. Their plans did end up turning into direct action because they weren’t being taken seriously. They would question and interrupted politician. They used slogans like ‘Deeds not words’. Even though the WSPU and NUWSS had a difference in policy and style, they both worked well together, Millicent Fawcett, President of the NUWSS, even praised the bold tactics and courage of the WSPU.
Arrest and imprisonment were tactics used by the WSPU. When their requests were turned down they would make protest speeches and be arrested. These women would choose to go to prison rather than pay fines. These tactics gave the WSPU v publicity and new recruits joined the movement which gained awareness.
By the autumn of 1907 there were changes in the WSPU. By force of personality and the support of her mother Christabel gained control of the WSPU in London. Mrs. Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel however were strongly criticized by certain memebers of the WSPU. By 1909 the WSPU had branches all over the country and were becoming increasing popular but this still wasn’t enough to get the vote. The factor that would change it for women would be the first world war.criticized the WSPU’s campaign of vandalism against private and commercial property.
The First World War was one of the main factors that contributed to the success of the campaign for women’s suffrage. During the war, the WSPU stopped their violent campaigning for the vote and concentrated on working for the war effort Emmeline Pankhurst’s attitude towards the government in 1914 changed as she felt it was more important to rally support for the country. This was encouraged by Sir Lloyd George as he realised that he need to recruit women in the war effort. He knew that Emmeline Pankhurst was the key to getting women involved. The NUWSS continued with their suffrage campaigning throughout the war years.
Emmeline Pankhurst suggested that women should be allowed to work in munitions factories. This would release men for the army and navy. Many women went into the munitions factories from domestic service. The work gave the servant girls a new sense of freedom. Women were also needed in the armed forces. They took over non-fighting jobs so that more men could be released for combat duties. The war also brought about a change in attitude towards women and in the attitude of women towards themselves. Public opinion began to accept that women deserved a reward for their war efforts. Upper and middle class women believed they had won the right to independence. Working class women who had done men's jobs successfully now realised that they should not be thought of as second-class workers. Women became an established part of the workforce and set up their own trade unions.In 1918 women over the age of 30 the right to vote. This opened the door and in 1928 the age was lowered to 21 finally giving equality with men.

You could say that if the NUWSS and the WSPU were never formed women probably wouldn’t have got the vote at the time they did. And if it wasn’t for Emmeline Pankhurst their war efforts would have been unnoticeable