Women's Franchise League facts for kids
The Women's Franchise League was an important group in Britain. It was started in 1889 by Emmeline Pankhurst and her husband, Richard. They were both suffragists who believed women should have the right to vote. This group was formed before Emmeline Pankhurst started her more famous group, the Women's Social and Political Union, in 1903.
In 1889, Harriet McIlquham was the president of the league. Many other people were part of the committee, working together to achieve their goals. Some of these members included Ursula Mellor Bright, Herbert Burrows, Alice Cliff Scatcherd, and Jane Cobden Unwin.
What the League Achieved
The main goal of the Women's Franchise League was to get voting rights for women. Before this group, only some single women could vote in local elections. These were elections for things like town councils.
Thanks to the hard work of the league's members, a big change happened. After the 1894 Local Government Act, some married women were also allowed to vote in these local elections. This was a very important step forward for women's rights in Britain.
The End of the League
The Women's Franchise League continued its work for several years. However, the group eventually ended in 1903. This was five years after Richard passed away. Even though the league itself ended, its efforts helped pave the way for future women's suffrage movements.
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