Women suffrage was  a time period where women weren’t allowed tovote , but men were. Many women disagreed with this and started a movement.  The American Women’s Suffrage Associationwrote a letter that explained how women wanted to have the same rights as men.

  It was written by a group of women who trulybelieved men and women should be treated equally.   Because of this strong belief , manyproblems arose.  Women were expected tostay home, cook, clean,  and take care ofthe children.

We Will Write a Custom Essay Specifically
For You For Only $13.90/page!


order now

However , they would much rather be doing something moreproductive.AND SO IT BEGAN….

                This movement really began in 1897 Millicent Fawcett  founded a group called the National Union OfWomen’s  Suffrage. She believed that allwomen should have the right to vote, like all men. She believed that protestsshould be peaceful in order to gain the trust of the men and persuade them tounderstand their reasoning for wanting their right to vote . Her plan was to bepatient, logical ,and free of any violence. She raised logical arguments thatwomen could hold responsible positions in society , like being members of theschool boards , however they were not trusted to vote. She made an argumentthat if men made laws that women had to obey, why shouldn’t women be a part ofthe law making process. Furthermore, if women had to pay taxes just like men hadto , then why  can’t they have the samerights as men do.

As good as she was at explaining why women should have equalrights, her progress was slow. About six years later in 1903, EmmalinePankhurst and her daughters Christabel and Sylvia, founded a group called theWomen’s Social and Political Union. They, like Millicent Fawcett, believedwomen should be able to vote, but they were not very patient.   They resorted to yelling at officials inmeetings and when they received fines because of it, they refused to pay them.

Theycontinued to interrupt meetings – this often resorted to them being physicallyremoved from meetings. The group grew into many women, now being called TheSuffragettes. They also got increasingly more violent and even burned down achurch because it was against women’s rights. Some members even attackedpoliticians on their way to work. When some of them went to prison, theyrefused to eat causing them to be weak. When they became very weak, they wouldbe released from prison because they would be to weak to cause trouble. Theywere thrown back in prison for any little thing to keep them from becomingviolent.

This was called the “Cat and mouse act”. As a result thesuffragettes became even more violent and extreme.  They blew up part of a politicians house atone point, even though he was thought to be a supporter of women’s rights.

Butthe violence and arguments were put on hold when Britain and Europe wereengulfed in World War One in August of 1914. Emmaline demanded the Suffragettesstop all campaigning and violence and support the government in every way.AND IT HAPPENED..

..        Becauseof the work done by women in the war, in 1918 the Representation of the PeopleAct was passed by parliament. The bill was passed with a huge amount ofsupport. The votes were 385 for to 55 against.

 The suffragettes were surprised ! This gavewomen over the age of 30 the right to vote. So even though not all women couldvote, it was a huge start.       Fast forward to today and women and menshare equal rights. Women can do almost anything they set their minds to , suchas  joining the military, members of thepolice force, firefighters , doctors, lawyers and even running for president!through determination, and education ,women can do anything.