January 1, 1970

Emmeline Pankhurst formed the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903.

She called for ‘Deeds not words’.

When a bill for female suffrage was defeated in 1907, the suffragettes reacted by smashing windows, chaining themselves to railings and organising a ‘rush’ on the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. In 1908 Pankhurst and two fellow suffragettes were arrested for organising a ‘breach of the peace’ when they distributed handbills calling on people to ‘HELP THE SUFFRAGETTES TO RUSH THE HOUSE OF COMMONS’.

Pankhurst was arrested seven times before women’s suffrage was approved.

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In 1913 the suffragette Emily Davison jumped in front of King George V’s horse and was killed.

However, when the First World War began the suffragettes ended their campaign. As Pankhurst said:

‘What is the use of fighting for a vote if we have not a country to vote in?’

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