1832

First Parliamentary Reform Bill. First Woman’s Suffrage bill presented to the House of Commons.

1867

Second reform Bill.  Petition from women presented to parliament by John Stuart Mill. Lydia Becker leads the formation of Manchester National Society for Women’s Suffrage (NSWS).  Formation of the London NSWS follows, with Millicent Garrettt Fawcett one of the leaders.

1881

Isle of Man grants the vote to women

1884

Third Reform Bill. Amendment proposed to include women – and is rejected.

1897

National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) formed with twenty societies signing up in London and elsewhere. Millicent Garrett Fawcett is elected President.

From 1866 to 1902 peaceful agitation by NUWSS and others leads to numerous petitions, bills and resolutions going before the House of Commons. Some get a second reading, all are rejected

1903

Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) formed in Manchester by Emmeline Pankhurst.

1905

Militant campaign begins. Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney are arrested and imprisoned. Deeds not Words and Votes for Women are adopted as campaign slogans.

1906

WSPU moves to London. Liberal government returned by a landslide.

1907

Feb: ‘Mud March’- suffragist march on Parliament – so-called because of the awful weather

Women’s Parliament at Caxton Hall

Sept: Women’s Freedom League (WFL) is formed, led by Charlotte Despard, breaking away from WSPU, in response to domination of the movement by the Pankhursts as leaders, in favour of democratic and constitutional organisation and to address wider agenda of women’s issues. WFL establishes the paper The Vote

Oct:  Votes for Women launched

1908

Asquith becomes Prime Minister, following resignation of Campbell-Bannerman.

June: Mass Hyde park rally

Dec: Actresses Franchise League established at meeting at Criterion Restaurant

1909

First hunger strikes by suffragettes. Forcible feeding introduced

May: Votes for Women Exhibition, Prince’s Skating Rink, Knightsbridge

Formation of the National League for Opposing Women’s Suffrage.

Dissolution of Parliament following battles over budget.

Nov: A Pageant of Great Women first performed at Scala Theatre

1910

Liberals return to power with reduced majority.

‘The Truce’ is declared – an end to militancy as Conciliation Committee promotes Suffrage Bill which passes second reading. Parliament dissolved once more following struggles between Liberal government and House of Lords.

July: Major rally in Hyde Park

Women march on House of Commons: Black Friday

1911

April: No Vote No Census protest

Record-breaking Coronation procession

Re-election of Liberal government. Further Truce with militants. New Conciliation Bill passes second reading with large majority – only to be torpedoed in November.

1912

Mass widow-smashing campaign. Labour Party supports women’s suffrage in alliance with NUWSS.

Mar: Christabel flees to Paris.

Oct: Sylvia Pankhurst establishes campaign in East End in support of George Lansbury and his candidacy in Bow and Bromley by-election

Split in WSPU as Emmeline and Frederick Pethick-Lawrence are expelled. They continue to edit Votes for Women. WSPU sets up The Suffragette.

1913

Speaker’s ruling wrecks hopes of amendment to include women in Reform Bill. Militant bomb and arson campaigns express widespread fury.

April: Cat and Mouse Act introduced – women can be temporarily released because of ill-health and then immediately re-arrested.

WSPU offices raided.

June: Emily Wilding Davis dies from injuries received on Derby Day under the hoofs of the King’s horse. Huge funeral procession held in London. Emmeline Pankhurst is arrested and goes on hunger and thirst strike.

1914

Violent action continues.

Sylvia Pankhurst’s East London Federation forced to split from WSPU because of focus on working women and her socialist links and sympathies.

4^th August – War is declared. Suffrage prisoners are released

Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst cease campaigning, support recruitment of soldiers and urge women to join the war effort.

Sylvia Pankhurst campaigns in the East End against war and for equal pay and rights for working women.

Many actresses including Lena Ashwell, Eva and Decima Moore and Inez Bensusan divert efforts into creating entertainment for the troops.

NUWSS under Millicent Garrett Fawcett declares ‘unconditional co-operation with the Government’

Kitty Marion opposes war but is deported as a German national and moves to the US.

1914-1918

Women’s extensive involvement in war work

1918

Representation of the People Act includes a clause giving the vote to women over thirty.