WW1 Armistice Exhibition - Suffragettes

The Suffragettes

The Women's Social and Political Union - the Suffragettes (Members of the women's suffrage movement), which fought to win British women the right to vote, was formed in 1903 and led by Emmeline Pankhurst.

‘Suffrage’ is defined as the right to vote in public political elections.

At the outbreak of the First World War, Emmeline Pankhurst suspended the activities of the Women's Social and Political Union and concentrated her efforts on helping the government recruit women into war work.

Most other women's suffrage organisations also chose to suspend their activities and many supported the war effort. Active campaigning continued behind the scenes though.