On This Day - 10 October 1903 - The Women's Social And Political Union Was Founded

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• published: 10 Oct 2016
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The date, the 10th of October 1903 – On this day, the Women’s Social and Political Union was founded. Women were not explicitly banned from voting in Great Britain until the 1832 Reform Act, which extended the electorate from around half a million to eight hundred thousand, out of population of 14 million. The act exclusively referred the eligible voters as male, and is thought to be the first explicit statutory bar to women voting. Varying degrees of pro women’s suffrage sentiment prevailed during the later part of the 19th century in the UK. The National Union Of Women’s Suffrage Societies was established 1897, and lead by Millicent Fawcett, and was dedicated to achieving the vote for women, through legal means. Dissatisfied at what they perceived as the union’s inaction and slow progress, a new group of six women, perhaps most notably Emmeline Panhkhurst and her daughter, Christabel, formed the break-away group the Women’s Society and Political Union, or WSPU on the 10th of October 1903. Over the next few years the WSPU, along with the whole notion of suffrage for women, gained in popularity, but was prevented from making significant legal traction because of opposition in parliament and low political will. In response the WSPU became more militant, and carried out a campaign of disobedience and vandalism, often burning down unoccupied buildings, including the house of then Chancellor of The Exchequer, and women’s suffrage advocate, David Lloyd George. Other members of the WSPU, often labelled suffragettes, also smashed windows, held rallies, and created a great deal of publicity for the movement. On the advent of the first world war the WSPU ceased functioning, and Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst later dissolved the union and established the Women’s Party in 1917. On the 6th of February 1918, the Representation of The People Act was passed, giving women over 30, who met certain property requirements, the vote. Later in the same year women were allowed to become members of parliament, and ten years later, in 1928, all women over 21 were given the vote in equal terms to men. The WSPU no doubt raised great awareness for the cause of women’s suffrage and is one of the best remembered suffrage groups. Everything becomes history. Until next time, goodbye. Sources: Suffragette Emily Davison, Killed by King's Horse at Epsom Derby | 4 June 1913 - Climeatelife https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vSvmTvyXac Suffragettes In Silent Cinema - WMMNYC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K90Woejs6xI Meet the Suffragettes: The Original Media-Disruptors | BFI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rvty0tsEts Women's Social And Political Union - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Social_and_Political_Union Emmeline Pankhurst (1858 - 1928) - BBC History http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/pankhurst_emmeline.shtml Emmeline Pankhurst Biography - Bio http://www.biography.com/people/emmeline-pankhurst-9432764