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John Stuart Mill MP presents the first mass women’s suffrage petition to the House of Commons. It contains over 1500 signatures.
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The Married Women's Property Act is established, giving women the right to own property and money.
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The Local Government Act is passed, which allows married and single women to vote in elections for county and borough councils.
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The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) is formed, uniting 17 societies. Later led by Millicent Fawcett, the NUWSS favoured peaceful campaign methods such as petitions.
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The Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) is formed in Manchester at the home of Emmeline Pankhurst.
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The WSPU adopts the motto ‘Deeds not Words’, resulting in the start of militant action by the suffragettes.
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The NUWSS organises their first large procession, where 40 suffragist societies and over 3000 women marched from Hyde Park to Exeter Hall in the rain and mud. It later became known as the 'Mud March'.
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Qualification of Women Act is passed, allowing women to be elected onto borough and county councils and as mayor.
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‘Women’s Sunday’ demonstration is organised by the WSPU at Hyde Park, London. Attended by 250,000 people from around Britain, it is the largest-ever political rally in London. Ignored by Asquith, suffragettes turn to smashing windows in Downing Street, using stones with written pleas tied to them, and tie themselves to railings.
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The Conciliation Bill, which would grant suffrage for one million women who owned property over the value of £10, is passed by the Commons but fails to become law. In retaliation, 300 suffragettes from the WSPU march on parliament, where they are met with police brutality, assault and arrests. This day later becomes known as ‘Black Friday’.
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Asquith announces a manhood suffrage bill, which is seen as a betrayal of the women’s suffrage campaign. In protest, the WSPU organises a mass window-smashing campaign through London. This heightened militancy continues into 1912, and spirals to include arson attacks.
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The Labour Party become the first political party to include female suffrage in their manifesto. This was partly in reaction to the NUWSS’s ‘Election Fighting Fund’, which was set up to help organise the Labour campaign.
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50,000 people from around the UK take part in the NUWSS’s ‘Pilgrimage for Women’s Suffrage’, which concludes with a rally in Hyde Park. The NUWSS wanted to display the suffragists’ peaceful, law-abiding tactics.
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The WSPU clash with police outside of the gates to Buckingham Palace, when Emmeline Pankhurst attempts to present a petition to King George V.
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The Representation of the People Act entitles everyone over the age of 21 to vote.