Amy Sanderson (suffragette) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amy Sanderson
Amy Sanderson in 1907
Born	Amy Reid 1876
Organisation	Women's Freedom League and Women's Social and Political Union and delegate to 1908 & 1923 International Alliance of Women
Known for	suffragette activism and women's rights
Relatives	one of six siblings
Awards	Holloway brooch

Amy Sanderson (born Amy Reid, 1876-1931) was an important Scottish suffragette. She was a member of the national executive committee for the Women's Freedom League. Amy was sent to prison twice for her activism.

She was a main speaker at a big women's rally in Hyde Park in 1912. This was after she marched all the way from Edinburgh to London. Amy Sanderson also represented Britain at international women's conferences in 1908 and 1923. She worked alongside other famous suffragettes like Charlotte Despard and Teresa Billington-Greig.

Early Life

Amy Reid was born in 1876 in Bellshill, Scotland. Her father, James Reid, was a hotel keeper. Her mother, Janet Kerr, was from Glasgow. Amy's grandfather was a Chartist, a person who fought for more rights for working people.

By 1881, Amy lived with her family in Dalziel, Lanarkshire. She was one of six children. She had five older siblings and one younger brother.

In 1901, Amy married James Sanderson in Glasgow. He worked with wires. Amy Sanderson passed away in 1931.

Fighting for Women's Votes

Amy Sanderson joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1906. This group worked to get women the right to vote. In 1907, she was arrested during a protest at the House of Commons.

She began giving speeches for the WSPU in Scotland. In October 1907, she joined a new group called the Women's Freedom League (WFL). This group had broken away from the WSPU. Amy served on the WFL's national committee for three years. She was known as a good organizer.

Prison and Recognition

In February 1908, Amy Sanderson was arrested again. She spent a month in Holloway Prison in London. She was part of a group who protested near the Prime Minister's home. For her time in prison, she received a Holloway brooch. This special brooch was designed by Sylvia Pankhurst for women imprisoned for the cause.

After her release, Amy spoke about her prison experiences. She highlighted the need for prison reform. She believed women should vote to help change unfair laws.

Speaking Out Across Scotland

Amy Sanderson traveled a lot to speak about women's suffrage. In 1908, she spoke in Dunfermline and Kilmarnock. She also spoke at a large venue in Glasgow. Audiences were often very supportive of the suffragettes' methods.

She campaigned in areas like Stonehaven with Anna Munro. They cycled around with "Votes for Women" signs on their bikes. They found that many people, even if they heckled, were interested in their message. Amy also spoke about equal pay for equal work. She pointed out that women factory workers and teachers were paid less than men for the same jobs.

Amy also challenged common ideas about suffragettes. She said that most were married women. She joked that they had "the best husbands in the world."

Major Rallies and Tours

In 1909, Amy organized WFL branches in Yorkshire and Durham. She was a popular speaker. Local newspapers often reported on her events. She had a very successful speaking tour in Manchester.

In 1910, Amy spoke at a large rally in Trafalgar Square. She was one of the main speakers, focusing on politics. She also spoke at an open-air meeting in Regent's Park. People were impressed by her strong arguments.

Later that year, she criticized the Labour Party. She felt they were not doing enough for working-class women. She argued that women who had fought for justice deserved support.

In June 1910, Amy joined a huge procession in London. Ten thousand women marched with banners and bands. Amy was grouped with the 617 "prisoners" who had been jailed for the cause. The Scottish banner read, "What's good for John is good for Janet."

Return to Activism

After a period of illness, Amy returned to activism in March 1912. She spoke at the WFL Conference. They celebrated women in Washington and California who had won the right to vote.

In October 1912, Amy was part of the "Brown March." This was a march from Edinburgh to London. She spoke to the group as they passed through York. Later, she joined thousands of women in Hyde Park. She was a leading speaker at this huge rally.

When World War One began, many suffragette prisoners, including Amy, were pardoned. This was because they agreed to stop their protests during the war.

International Work

In May 1923, Amy Sanderson was a delegate again. She attended the Congress of the International Alliance of Women in Rome, Italy. At that time, women in Italy could not vote at all.

The leader of Italy, Benito Mussolini, opened the Congress. Amy reported that he was very impressed by the event. He even promised to give women the right to vote in local elections if he was still in power the next year.

Images for kids

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  Amy Sanderson in 1907, wearing her Holloway brooch.