3.5.6 Women's suffrage

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, women campaigned for the right to vote. The Suffragists, led by Millicent Fawcett, used peaceful methods such as petitions and marches. The Suffragettes, led by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters, used more militant tactics including chaining themselves to railings, smashing windows, and going on hunger strikes in prison.

In 1918, women over 30 who owned property (or whose husbands owned property) were given the right to vote. In 1928, women were given the right to vote on the same terms as men — at the age of 21. This was a major milestone in the development of democracy in Britain. The campaign for women's suffrage is one of the most important social movements in British history.