Women's Franchise League facts for kids
The Women's Franchise League was an important group in Britain that worked to get women the right to vote. It was started in 1889 by Emmeline Pankhurst and her husband Richard, along with other people who believed in women's rights. This was 14 years before the more famous Women's Social and Political Union was formed.
The word "franchise" in the group's name means the right to vote. At that time, most women in Britain could not vote in national or even many local elections. The League wanted to change this.
Who Started the League?
The Women's Franchise League was founded by Emmeline Pankhurst and her husband Richard. They were both strong supporters of women's rights. Emmeline Pankhurst later became a very famous leader in the fight for women's suffrage.
In 1889, Harriet McIlquham was the first President of the organization. Many other dedicated people joined the League's committee over the years. Some of these members included Ursula Mellor Bright, Herbert Burrows, Alice Cliff Scatcherd, and Jane Cobden Unwin. These individuals worked together to push for changes in the law.
What Did the League Achieve?
The main success of the Women's Franchise League was helping some married women get the right to vote in local elections. Before 1894, only some single women could vote in these local elections.
Thanks to the League's efforts and campaigning, the Local Government Act 1894 was passed. This new law allowed more women, including some married women, to vote in elections for their local councils. This was a big step forward, even though women still couldn't vote in national elections for Parliament.
When Did the League End?
The Women's Franchise League continued its work for several years. However, it eventually broke up in 1903. This was five years after Richard Pankhurst passed away. Even though the League ended, its work helped pave the way for future women's suffrage movements in Britain.
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