A history of the Suffragette movement in the UK

The term Suffragette was coined by the Daily Mail as a derogatory label for women who were fighting for female suffrage and women's Rights. The WSPU was formed by Emmeline, Christobel and Sylvia Pankhurst in 1903. This started as a peaceful protest for some form of sexual equality, but turned into what became known as the Suffragette movement, which combined women and men from different political factions. 1912 marked a turning point in the suffrage movement and the start of more militant acts. In 1913 Emily Davidson was killed at the Derby by being dragged under by the Kings horse. In the same year the government passed the prisoners Act to combat women going on hunger strike while imprisoned. It allowed women to be released when they were close to death, only to be re-arrested when they had recovered. From 1912 onwards the Suffragettes also targeted property. At the outbreak of World War 1 the Suffragettes decided to support the government and the movement effectively ended. At the end of the war in 1918 the Parliamentary Qualification Act allowed women to stand for parliament, but women were not given full suffrage until 1928.

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