National Society for Women's Suffrage facts for kids

The National Society for Women's Suffrage Manchester Branch

The National Society for Women's Suffrage was a very important group in the United Kingdom. It was the first national organization to fight for women's right to vote. This means they wanted women to have the same right as men to choose their leaders in elections. The group officially started on November 6, 1867, thanks to Lydia Becker. It played a big part in starting the whole movement for women's voting rights.

Spreading the Word: Early Branches

The idea of women voting quickly gained support across the UK. In Edinburgh, Eliza Wigham, Jane Wigham, Priscilla Bright McLaren, and their friends started a local branch. Eliza and her friend Agnes McLaren helped lead this group as secretaries. By 1870, other parts of Scotland also had branches, including Aberdeen, Glasgow, St. Andrews, and Galloway.

By 1871, the society's message had reached other big cities. In Leeds, important members like Isabella Ford and Joseph Lupton joined the local committee. Meanwhile, Millicent Fawcett was a key member of the London branch. This London group had been active since July 5, 1867, showing how quickly the movement grew.

Forming a Central Committee

In 1871, Jacob Bright, a Liberal politician, suggested a new idea. He thought it would be helpful to create a group in London to talk directly with members of parliament about women's voting rights. This idea was supported by a petition from Jane Taylour of the Galloway branch and others.

This led to the creation of the Central Committee of the National Society for Women's Suffrage. This new committee held its first meeting on January 17, 1872. Its main goal was to work with politicians to make changes to the law.

Lasting Impact

The National Society for Women's Suffrage made a big difference. Many people benefited from their work. For example, Mary Smieton, a British civil servant, shared in an interview how the society helped her. Her story was recorded as part of a project called Oral evidence on the suffragette and suffragist movements: the Brian Harrison interviews. This shows how important the society was in helping women gain more rights and opportunities.

See also

In Spanish: Sociedad Nacional para el Sufragio de las Mujeres para niños

• Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom
• History of feminism
• List of suffragists and suffragettes
• List of women's rights organizations
• List of women's rights activists
• Timeline of women's suffrage
• Women's suffrage organizations