National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies
Encyclopedia
The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), also known as the Suffragists (not to be confused with the suffragette
s) was an organisation of women's suffrage
societies in the United Kingdom
.
The groups united under the leadership of Millicent Fawcett
, who was the president of the society for over twenty years. The organisation was democratic, aiming to achieve women's suffrage through peaceful and legal means, in particular by introducing Parliamentary Bills and holding meetings to explain and promote their aims.
In 1903, NUWSS suffered the split of the Women's Social and Political Union
(WSPU, the "suffragettes"), who wished to undertake more militant action. Nevertheless, the group continued to grow, and by 1914 there were in excess of 500 branches throughout the country, with over 100,000 members. Many, but by no means all, of the members were middle class
, with some of the working class
. Unlike the WSPU, their group also had some male members.
For the 1906 UK general election, the group formed committees in each constituency to persuade local parties to select pro-suffrage candidates.
The NUWSS organised the Mud March
of February 7, 1907, its first large, open-air procession.
Ms. Fawcett said in a speech in 1911 that their movement was "like a glacier; slow moving but unstoppable".
opposed votes for women.) Consequently, it did not become law.
Labour from 1903 was tied into an alliance with the Liberals and its leadership was divided on the issue of female emancipation. Although, the 1913 Party Conference agreed to oppose any franchise bill that didn’t include extension of the franchise for women as well. This is because of a northwest campaign that effectively changed opinion. This party consistently supported women suffrage in the years before the war.
Also, Fawcett was becoming infuriated with the Liberals (although she was Liberal herself) delaying tactics and her response was to help Labour candidates against Liberals ones at election time. In 1912 the NUWSS established the Elections Fighting Fund Committee (EFF) that was headed by Catherine Marshall. This backed Labour and in 1913-14 the EFF intervened in four by-elections and although Labour won none, the Liberals lost two.
The NUWSS allying itself with Labour put pressure on the Liberals, because the Liberals' political future depended on Labour staying weak.
in France
.
They agreed to the women's suffrage bill agreed by a speakers conference although it did not grant equal suffrage which is what the organisation campaigned for.
, ref 2NWS
Suffragette
"Suffragette" is a term coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for members of the late 19th and early 20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union...
s) was an organisation of women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
societies in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Formation and campaigning
The group was founded in 1897 by the merger of the National Central Society for Women's Suffrage and the Central Committee, National Society for Women's Suffrage, the groups having originally split in 1888.The groups united under the leadership of Millicent Fawcett
Millicent Fawcett
Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett, GBE was an English suffragist and an early feminist....
, who was the president of the society for over twenty years. The organisation was democratic, aiming to achieve women's suffrage through peaceful and legal means, in particular by introducing Parliamentary Bills and holding meetings to explain and promote their aims.
In 1903, NUWSS suffered the split of the Women's Social and Political Union
Women's Social and Political Union
The Women's Social and Political Union was the leading militant organisation campaigning for Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom...
(WSPU, the "suffragettes"), who wished to undertake more militant action. Nevertheless, the group continued to grow, and by 1914 there were in excess of 500 branches throughout the country, with over 100,000 members. Many, but by no means all, of the members were middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
, with some of the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
. Unlike the WSPU, their group also had some male members.
For the 1906 UK general election, the group formed committees in each constituency to persuade local parties to select pro-suffrage candidates.
The NUWSS organised the Mud March
Mud March (Suffragists)
The Mud March of 7 February 1907 was the first large procession organized by the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies . Over 3,000 women trudged through the cold and the rutty streets of London from Hyde Park to Exeter Hall to advocate for women’s suffrage.Millicent Fawcett, the renowned...
of February 7, 1907, its first large, open-air procession.
Ms. Fawcett said in a speech in 1911 that their movement was "like a glacier; slow moving but unstoppable".
Political Bias
Before 1912 the NUWSS were not officially allied with any party however, the Conciliation Bill of 1911 had an effect because although it had a majority the Liberal government did not give it enough time in parliament for further debate. (This was because the speaker Sir James LowtherJames Lowther, 1st Viscount Ullswater
James William Lowther, 1st Viscount Ullswater, GCB, PC, JP, DL was a British Conservative politician. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons between 1905 and 1921.-Background and education:The son of Hon...
opposed votes for women.) Consequently, it did not become law.
Labour from 1903 was tied into an alliance with the Liberals and its leadership was divided on the issue of female emancipation. Although, the 1913 Party Conference agreed to oppose any franchise bill that didn’t include extension of the franchise for women as well. This is because of a northwest campaign that effectively changed opinion. This party consistently supported women suffrage in the years before the war.
Also, Fawcett was becoming infuriated with the Liberals (although she was Liberal herself) delaying tactics and her response was to help Labour candidates against Liberals ones at election time. In 1912 the NUWSS established the Elections Fighting Fund Committee (EFF) that was headed by Catherine Marshall. This backed Labour and in 1913-14 the EFF intervened in four by-elections and although Labour won none, the Liberals lost two.
The NUWSS allying itself with Labour put pressure on the Liberals, because the Liberals' political future depended on Labour staying weak.
NUWSS during World War I
The NUWSS were split between the majority that supported war and the minority who were opposed. During the war the group set up an employment register so that the jobs of those who were serving could be filled. The NUWSS also financed women's hospital units, these employed only female doctors and nurses. Such groups served during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
They agreed to the women's suffrage bill agreed by a speakers conference although it did not grant equal suffrage which is what the organisation campaigned for.
Archives
The archives of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies are held at The Women's Library at London Metropolitan UniversityLondon Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
, ref 2NWS
See also
- Women's suffrage in the United KingdomWomen's suffrage in the United KingdomWomen's suffrage in the United Kingdom as a national movement began in 1872. Women were not prohibited from voting in the United Kingdom until the 1832 Reform Act and the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act...
- Margaret MacDonaldMargaret MacDonald (spouse)Margaret MacDonald, née Margaret Ethel Gladstone was a feminist, social reformer, and the wife of British politician and future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Ramsay MacDonald from 1896 until her death from blood poisoning in 1911...
- wife of future Prime MinisterPrime ministerA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Ramsey MacDonald, was an active member. - The Women's Library (London)The Women's Library (London)The Women's Library in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is Britain's main library and museum resource on women and the women's movement, especially concentrating on Britain in the 19th and 20th centuries.The Library has over 60,000 books and pamphlets...
- as well as the NUWSS archive the Library has extensive suffrage holdings
Further reading
- Hume, Leslie Parker. The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, 1897-1914. Modern British History, 3. New York: Garland, 1982. ISBN 9780824051679.