This is Emmeline Pankhurst.
- Emmeline was born in Manchester in 1858.
- She fought hard for equal voting rights for women.
- She made powerful speeches asking women to join her protests.
- She made banners and leaflets to spread the word.
Watch: Emmeline Pankhurst's life
Find out more about the life of Emmeline Pankhurst.
I'm Emmeline Pankhurst, and for the first time ever, I, as a woman, have the backing of parliament to vote for who runs the country.
This would not have happened without the suffragettes.
Until now the only people who got to vote were men.
Well, some men; men with money.
There were groups who argued that that wasn't fair, but government didn't listen.
So my daughters and I started the WSPU, the Women's Social and Political Union.
I made speeches urging women to take action!
Deeds not words!
This upset those in charge.
Votes for women!
So much so, that many suffragettes were imprisoned, seen as criminals rather than protestors.
Some people in Parliament defended us and tried to change the law, but they were unsuccessful.
We argued, but were treated terribly for it.
Women were hurt, some even died.
It seemed government cared more for rich men's property than human life.
So this is where we struck back.
You’re accused of burning down a golf club?!
Bothering the King?!
Smashing the Prime Minister's windows?!
In 1914, the war began.
We put our own fight on hold to concentrate on the war effort.
What was the use of fighting for a vote if we didn’t have a country to vote in?
The year is now 1918 and last month the war ended.
It’s taken a lifetime of struggle for women, like me, to perform this small act of voting.
But many other women still do not have this right.
There is still work to do.
What did Emmeline Pankhurst do?
- Emmeline Pankhurst started the Women’s Social and Political Union with her daughters. Members became known as 'suffragettes'.
- Suffragettes believed in taking action so that people would listen to them. Many thought that they were criminals because of this.
- Emmeline Pankhurst was arrested several times for speaking up.
- In 1918 some women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote. In 1928 all women over the age of 21 could vote.
Did you know?
- Emmeline had ten brothers and sisters! She was the oldest girl.
- Emmeline’s husband was also involved in the fight for women’s rights.
- She often wore a disguise when she went out, to make it harder for the police to see and arrest her.
Activity – Emmeline Pankhurst quiz
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