National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies

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== National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies ==

The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) was an organization in the United Kingdom that campaigned for women's suffrage. Founded in 1897, it was the largest and most influential suffrage organization in the country. The NUWSS was known for its peaceful and lawful methods of campaigning, in contrast to the more militant tactics of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU).

History

The NUWSS was formed by the merger of various local suffrage societies, with the aim of creating a unified national movement. The organization was led by Millicent Fawcett, a prominent suffragist who believed in achieving women's suffrage through non-violent means. Under her leadership, the NUWSS grew significantly, attracting a large membership and gaining political influence.

Campaigns and Methods

The NUWSS employed a variety of methods to campaign for women's suffrage, including:

• Organizing public meetings and demonstrations
• Lobbying Members of Parliament
• Distributing pamphlets and literature
• Collecting petitions

The organization also worked to build alliances with other political groups and parties that supported women's suffrage, such as the Labour Party and the Liberal Party.

Achievements

The efforts of the NUWSS contributed significantly to the eventual success of the women's suffrage movement in the UK. The organization's persistent and peaceful campaigning helped to shift public opinion and put pressure on the government to grant women the right to vote. In 1918, the Representation of the People Act 1918 was passed, which granted suffrage to women over the age of 30 who met certain property qualifications. This was followed by the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928, which extended the vote to all women over the age of 21 on equal terms with men.

Legacy

The legacy of the NUWSS is remembered as a crucial part of the women's suffrage movement in the UK. The organization's commitment to peaceful protest and democratic principles set a standard for future social and political movements. The work of the NUWSS and its members paved the way for greater gender equality and women's rights in the UK and beyond.

Related Pages

• Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom
• Millicent Fawcett
• Women's Social and Political Union
• Representation of the People Act 1918
• Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928
• Labour Party (UK)
• Liberal Party (UK)