The Suffragettes were a female militant political movement that had fought courageously to give women the legal right to vote in local and national elections, during an era when women were treated as second class citizens. The first woman's rights convention was presented in a town called Seneca Falls, in New York, USA, and it spanned 19-20 July 1848. The convention was primarily organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902), said to be a prominent American activist, and Lucretia Mott (1793-1880), who was a devout American Quaker and abolitionist. The two ladies had met by chance on a previous occasion a few years earlier, whilst they had visited England, in 1840, at the first World Anti-Slavery Convention, in Exeter Hall, London. However, the audience who had attended that venue were mostly men, and it was reported that during the convention, Mott and Stanton were much aggrieved and they had expressed outrage, after they had been denied seats because of their gender, and to add insult to injury, the two ladies were only permitted to listen to the debate from the public gallery, but they were not allowed to speak or vote on any of the proposals that had been put forward. Once the two ladies had been introduced, Mott and Cady, immediately struck a chord and after speaking to each other at length, subsequently, the two ladies pledged to organize their own convention in order to embark upon a campaign to advance women's rights and to engage in the fight for women's suffrage.
Frederick Douglass (US Republican Statesman)
At the Seneca Falls Convention, in 1848, Cady Stanton and a group of Quaker women put forward prepared documents called the Declaration of Sentiments, namely, a list of resolutions, including, the right of women to vote which was to be debated and voted on at that meeting. When the topic of women's right to vote was discussed at the convention, it had immediately sparked a furious debate amongst the attendees, with some members calling for the removal of this proposition, as they thought the idea was ridiculous and too ambitious to consider seriously. However, the proposal was officially adopted as a resolution, after African American US Congressman Frederick Douglass walked on stage and delivered a spellbinding speech, which had captured the imagination of the audience. Douglass had eloquently extolled the virtues of women's perspective and their potentially positive influence on American politics. Frederick Douglass (born 1818 - died 1895) was a former slave (self-educated), who as a young man had shown resilience in the face of adversity, and in his later years had expressed a passion for politics, thus, as a consequence of his determination, and against the odds, eventually, he became the first African American to be inaugurated into the US Congress as an American statesman. Furthermore, as well as becoming a politician, Frederick Douglass was an orator, and successful author, who was known throughout his career to be a staunch and loyal supporter of women's suffrage.
During a regional women's rights convention on 29 May 1851, in Akron, Ohio, United States, a former African-American slave named Sojourner Truth (born 1797- died 1883), who turned abolitionist and women's rights activist, delivered her first captivating speech, as she stood defiantly on a stage in front of a mixed audience, including some hostile male chauvinists, and then bravely orated her statements, which may have been littered with grammatical mistakes, yet, with a graceful determination, she made a convincing speech about the plights and the rights of African-Americans, as well as, women's rights. Over the passage of time, her speech became acknowledged as one of the most famous women's rights and abolitionist speeches in American history. Sojourner Truth was born in a town called Swartekill, New York, the United States, where she inherited a life of bondage and oppression and was denied basic education. But, in 1826, she seized an opportunity which enabled her to escape from enslavement to freedom. A few years later, in 1828, Truth began a lawsuit to win custody of her five-year-old-son, Peter, who had been illegally taken from her by a slave owner, ultimately, truth had taken her case to the New York Supreme Court, and surprisingly, she won the right to sue her son's abductor, the slave owner, and the Albany Supreme Court, who had allowed the illegal sale of her infant son. As a result, Sojourner Truth became the first African American woman in US history to win a court case of such a nature.
American Women's Rights Organisations
Around the mid-19th century, women's rights movements began to increase in popularity, particularly in America, and over time, as more women came forward and some men to offer their support for the cause, eventually, the National Women Suffrage Association (NWSA) was established on 15 May 1869, USA. The founders were Americans, Susan B. Anthony (born 1820 - died 1906), and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (born 1815 - died 1902). Other prominent American women who had fought for women's rights in that era were Lucy Stone (born 1818 - died 1893), who was an orator and abolitionist, also, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (born 1825 - died 1911), who was an African American writer and abolitionist. The American Women Suffrage Association (AWSA) was founded in 1869, which was the same year as the National Women Suffrage Association (NWSA). They were known as the two most prominent women's rights organization in America at that time. However, in 1890, the AWSA and NWSA decided to merge into one powerful organization called the National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA), which became the largest women's rights organization in the United States, and initially, it was directed by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady, who were the two previous directors of the NWSA. In other parts of America there were less well-known women's suffrage movements that were infamous for using extreme measures to achieve their objectives, some members were prepared to commit criminal acts for the cause, and even willing to go to prison for their offenses. It is believed that the NAWSA had contributed significantly to the eventual enactment of the 19th Amendment (women's vote) in 1920. Nevertheless, in February 1920, a few months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the NAWSA dissolved and underwent a dramatic transformation, which later emerged as the League of Women's Voters (LWV), a non-profit, nonpartisan, political organization, which continues to thrive presently.
The 19th Amendment (1920)
In 1893, New Zealand became the first self-governing nation to provide women over the age of 21, with the right to vote nationwide, South Australia followed on 18 December 1894, it allowed south Australian women the right to vote, and the right to stand for parliament. Meanwhile, in Wyoming, USA, white American women over the age of 21 were given the right to vote, in 1869, and in Utah, USA, white females over the age of 21 were given the right to vote on 12 February 1870. Nevertheless, certain women harbored greater ambitions for political reforms relating to women's rights and steadfastly continued the fight to that end. The United States officially entered World War I, on 6 April 1917. However, prior to that date, the United States had assisted Canada, Britain, and certain other nations by providing them with financial aid, military equipment, and numerous other provisions. During WWI, millions of black and white American women had willingly seized the opportunity to demonstrate their versatility and diligence by undertaking jobs which were not normal for most females in that era. As a result, following WWI, many Americans had widely praised women for their contribution to the war, and gave women greater respect. As a consequence, women's rights campaigners gained greater support, once they resumed their political objectives, and their efforts were eventually rewarded, on 18 August 1920, when the 19th Amendment was enacted by the US congress, this law gave all white American women over the age of 21 across the United States, the legal right to vote. However, it was many years later, after further determined efforts by African Americans and their supporters that congress finally enacted the Voting Rights Act in 1965, which gave African Americans the right to vote in the USA.
British Women's Suffrage
In Britain, the Manchester Society for Women's Suffrage was founded in January 1867, by British activist Ursula Mellor Bright (born 1835 - died 1915) and British politician Jacob Bright (born 1821 - died 1899). During the existence of this organization, it underwent several different name changes as it evolved over the years and affiliated with other women's suffrage organizations. The Independent Labour Party (ILP), as they were then known, had agreed to assist the Society for Women's Suffrage by promoting their cause to help them secure a franchise for British women. However, certain women activists were disappointed in the (ILP), because although they were said to be very supportive of women's suffrage, the Independent Labour Party had made it very clear that their priority was to secure a franchise for British working-class men. John Stuart Mill (born 1806 - died 1873) was a British politician, economist, philosopher, and author, some of his works included 'Principles of Political Economy', 'The Subjection of Women', 'Utilitarianism' and 'A System of Logic'. Prior to becoming an MP, John Mill had pledged to promote women's suffrage if he was elected to parliament. In 1865, John Mill was elected to parliament as a member of the Liberal Party, and subsequently, he proved to be pivotal in helping British women win the franchise. After the Manchester committee (feminist organization) was founded, in 1866, they were contacted by John Mill, who assured them that he would present a petition to the British Parliament on their behalf for the enfranchisement of women, on the condition that the Manchester committee had gathered at least 100 signatures. During the same year, amateur British scientist Lydia Becker attended a meeting for the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science (NAPSS), which was held in Manchester, and during that meeting petition organizer Barbara Bodichon (co-founder of Girton College in 1869, currently the University of Cambridge) read a piece of writing entitled 'reasons for the enfranchisement of women' and after listening to Bodichon's speech, Lydia Becker was impressed enough to offer her assistance, by way of collecting signatures for the cause. On 7 June 1866, John Mill (Liberal MP), as promised, presented the women's petition to the House of Commons, by which time there were said to be 1499 signatures, including, Florence Nightingale (English social reformer and founder of modern nursing), Harriet Martineau (English social theorist), Josephine Butler (English feminist, social reformer), and Mary Somerville (Scottish scientist and writer).
Women's Social And Political Union (WSPU)
During the late 19th century several women's suffrage groups were founded across the United Kingdom, and in 1897, it is said that well over a dozen of those regional individual groups assembled in order to establish the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), which became the largest and most influential suffrage movement within the United Kingdom at that moment, and originally the (NUWSS) was led by English writer and feminist activist Millicent Garrett Fawcett (born 1847- died 1929). In 1903, Emmeline Pankhurst (born 1858 - died 1928), who was a member of the (NUWSS), and several other female members became increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress for their cause, but particularly incensed that the Independent Labour Party (ILP) had refused to prioritize women's franchise, as a result, those women decided to form a more radical breakaway group called the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), which brandished the famous moto 'deeds not words'. The WSPU arguably became the most highly controversial and most prominent women's suffrage movement within the United Kingdom. The WSPU were notorious for their brazen employment of extreme violence to achieve their objective, some of which included burning down public buildings and destroying works of art. The term 'Suffragette' was written in the 'London Daily Mail' in 1906, by the British journalist Charles E. Hands, who had the malicious intention to use the word to cause disrespect and demean the WSPU activists. However, the term 'Suffragette' was unexpectedly and most enthusiastically embraced by the suffragists, who began using the expression as a source of great pride. Therefore, by mere coincidence, the suffragists became known as the 'Suffragettes' and they were perceived as women who were prepared to suffer, sacrifice, and show civil disobedience to defeat the injustice of being denied the right to vote, which had been considered a wounding insult to numerous women in that era.
Votes For Women (Newspaper)
Votes for Women newspaper was founded in October 1907, by Frederick and Emmaline Pathick-Lawrence. The couple became joint editors of the Newspaper, which was published by the St Clements press. This publication was adopted as the official newspaper of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). Many copies of Votes for Women were often sold on street corners by women activists, who were often harassed and heckled by certain disapproving pedestrians as they casually walked by. In 1908, the Women's Social Political Union created the suffragettes colour scheme, which was purple for loyalty and dignity, white for purity, and green for hope, Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence was the designer of the colour scheme, and she was also co-editor of the Votes for Women newspaper. In that era there were several well-known high street stores such as Selfridges and Liberty, who had successfully sold a variety of items infused with the suffragette tricolours on them, namely, many items of clothing, handbags, shoes, hats, and scarves. In that age of British history, suffragette items became so popular that in December 1908, a famous London Jewellers called Mappin & Webb (held Royal Warrants to British monarchs since 1897) began a lucrative venture publishing catalogues which showcased a variety of suffragette jewellery. Votes for Women newspaper had proved an important recruitment and fundraising promotions instrument for the WSPU, however, the British government, ended the Votes for Women publication in 1912, after the editors Frederick and Emmaline Pathick-Lawrence were arrested for inciting and committing criminal acts of violence in the name of women's suffrage, subsequently, in 1912, Frederick and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence was sent to prison to serve 9 months each.
The Birth Of Women Militancy
Over time the WSPU began to increase their popularity and gained more members, partly through controversial means, but despite their great efforts, the British government refused to give women living in Britain the vote. In that era there were no female MPs, and British politicians held the firm opinion that women were too emotional and were not sufficiently educated about politics to be granted the privilege to vote. Therefore, some WSPU members feared that their vociferous outcries for change would eventually vanish in vain over time. As a result, a faction of the WSPU had vowed to undertake greater extreme measures by which to achieve their long-waited justice. Those female activists had employed radical tactics such as, intentionally chaining themselves to the railings of public buildings, cause destruction and set fire to certain public buildings, and seek out and physically attack some members of the British parliament. Some female militants who had been taken to court and fined for their criminal acts had refused to pay their court bills, and some of those who were sent to prison demanded to be treated as political prisoners, otherwise, those women prisoners had threatened to go on hunger strike. In that era of British history, political prisoners were given special freedoms and privileges that other prisoners were denied, such as writing correspondence letters to important organisations, and allowed special visits and conversations with certain representatives of the media. The British government had feared that if they had granted the women militants political status, it might give them too much exposure to the media, alternatively, if any members died in prison while on hunger strike, they might be perceived as martyrs. Therefore, the British government had taken the controversial decision to force feed the female prisoners, which in certain cases, unintentionally caused some tragic incidents, and subsequently, this presented more bad publicity and greater problems for the then British government.
Emily Wilding Davison
British suffragette Emily Wilding Davison (born 1872 - died 1913) was considered an extremely passionate and prominent member of the WSPU. One fateful day, on 4 June 1913, Davison had travelled to a British horse race Darby, where she had shocked the world, by unexpectedly running onto the horse race track directly in front of King George V's famous racehorse Anmer, as a consequence, Emily Davison was tragically struck down and trampled on by several onrushing racehorses, the incident caused her to sustain a fractured skull, and as a result, she was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital where four days later, unfortunately, Davison passed away on 8 June 1913. After Emily Davison died, an official forensic report had concluded that it was uncertain whether she had attempted suicide or perhaps prompted by her overwhelming enthusiasm, she had briefly lost herself and attempted to affix a suffragette banner on to an ongoing racehorse. Nevertheless, in the corridors of history, Davison is perceived by many women as a heroine who had given the ultimate sacrifice for her sisters. And since Davison's tragic demise, she is now considered to be a martyr, and over time her place of rest has become enshrined by multitudes of pilgrims, who had journeyed great distances to honour her memory. Emily Davison was once a young crusader, who had cradled great hope to win justice for herself and her long-suffering sisters, and with the courage of a goddess, she fought for her beloved cause with all her heart, even unto the bitter end.
Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928
When World War I began on 28 July 1914, the suffragette campaign was suspended to help with the war effort. Millions of enthusiastic women of various ages across Britain gained employment in jobs that were traditionally undertaken by men and in so doing had proven their capabilities beyond expectations. As a result, after the war women had gained significantly greater respect from British society because of their positive contributions during the war, and this new perception of women had greatly assisted the progress of all the British women's rights movements. When the suffragette movement resumed their campaign, it was with a new sense of hope, and subsequently, they had decided not to participate in direct action, instead of which, the female activists employed more peaceful protests and lobbying methods. The 'Representation of the People's Act 1918' was passed by the British government on 6 February 1918. This new law meant that British men over the age 21 were granted the right to vote, and British women over the age of 30, who owned property which had been valued above a certain threshold were also granted the right to vote. A decade later the British government passed the 'Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928' which received Royal assent on 2 July 1928. This new law gave all British women over the age of 21 the right to vote, regardless of the property that they owned. Great milestones had been reached within the United States and United Kingdom, yet the journey was not complete, as armies of female activists had chosen to persevere with the honourable fight to build a better, more just, and much fairer society, for the fairer sex.
Written by Star_gazer
Published 11 July 2021
