Suffragette Timeline 1890-1918

  • Women's Property Act

    Married women finally had the right to own property on their own, instead of all of her property belonging to her husband.
  • Recognition of Women as Individuals

    Women were finally recognised by the law as invidivuals, instead of as their husband's possesions.
  • Women's Franchise League

    The Women's Franchise League takes up the rights of married womend and campaigns for equality for women in divorce, inheritance, and custody of children.
  • Educational Reforms + Legal Judgement

    Free and compulsory education is introduced for all working-class children up to the age of twelve. Legal judgement confirms that a man cannot compel his wife to live in the matrimonial home.
  • Parish Councils Act

    The Parish Councils Act permits propertied women and ratepayers to serve on urban and parish district councils.
  • Factory Act

    The Factory Act bans the employment of children under eleven in factories, and women were not to be employed for four weeks after having a child.
  • National Union of Women's Suffragette Societies

    The non-militant National Union of Women's Suffragette Societies (NUWSS) is formed by well-educated middle class women who are frustrated with their lives.
  • Conflict between MP's

    Many backbench Liberal MP's supported the idea of women's votes, but the Liberal leaders were opposed because only better off, property-owning women would get the vote-and these women would vote Consevative. Some Conservative MP's were therefore interested but the backbench Conservatives were completely opposed to the idea.
  • Factory Act 2

    The Factory Act reduces the number of hours women work by one hour.
  • Australian Parliamentary Resolution

    Australian Parliament "respectfully urge[s]" all nations to grant women the vote, after the reform brought nothing but good in Australia.
  • A Setback in Parliament

    The government promised a Conciliation Bill which had support from every party. The suffragettes suspended militant action. The bill received a majority of 167, but was then dropped. It was instead announced all men would be given the vote and a clause could be added about women later if MP's wished.
  • Emily Davidson

    Emily Davidson was an experienced suffragette campaigner, present at the famous Derby horse race where thousands of spectators had gathered to watch. During the race she attempted to rush out and attach the suffragette flag to a horse before it crossed the finish line, but unfortunately was struck down and later died of severe injuries. Her actions and death brought huge attention to the cause she had died for.
  • The Right to Vote

    Women over 30 (40% of the female population at the time) gained the right to vote.
  • The Equal Franchise Act

    The Equal Franchise Act allowed women over 21 to vote and finally women achieved equal voting rights as men. 15 million women were now eligible to vote.