Emily Wilding Davison was the most famous women during the twentieth century who campaigned for women’s suffrage. She is best known today for walking in front of the King’s horse at the Epsom derby. Equality was in fact the heart of the Women’s Social and Political Union. Emily resides in the public’s imagination as the martyr suffragette in modern times who risked it all to make sure women have fair rights.
Throughout history, women have been labeled as the inferior gender. Women were not allowed to make decisions politically or socially without the man’s opinion first. Women have been treated this way over the centuries and many have stood up for themselves and fought against their lack of rights. In the early 1900’s, women took a more intense…show more content… Many non-violence tactics such as organized meetings; big banners; campaigns; speeches and demonstrations began to increase. The leader of the Women's Social and Political Union was Emmeline Pankhurst who wanted the vote but did not believe in the peaceful way. They intended to use violence and aggression to get what they wanted like smashing windows; burning buildings. The Suffragettes hoped that whatever tactics they used, no one would be physically hurt except themselves. According to C N Trueman “They argued that Emily was a highly educated person. If a highly educated woman was willing to do what she did, what could society expect of less educated women?” “In 1914 the WSPU ceased all agitation for women’s suffrage and threw its support behind the British war effort in World War I,” according to Karren Smith. The government passed a law allowing women to vote in February of 1918, but they had to be over the age of thirty. They also had to own or rent property for more than five years, or married to someone who did. In July of 1928 a law was passed allowing all women over the age of twenty-one to vote. The Women’s Social and Political Union did in fact have an impact on national
