chon and Elizabeth Garrett co-drafted a petition for Women’s Suffrage. The petition had 1,550 signatures. It was given to John Stuart Mill who presented it to The House of Commons in 1866. This petition was to support an amendment to the reform act so women could vote. In the voting of The House, it was defeated 196 votes to 73 votes. The Reform Bill of 1867 contained no provisions for women suffrage. (“Barbara Leigh Smith (Madame Bodichon) and Hastings”, NP)In the 1870’s these organizations submitted to Parliament petitions that demanded the franchise for women and it contained almost 3 million signatures. . (“Barbara Leigh Smith (Madame Bodichon) and Hastings”, NP) This led to the formation of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) in 1897. Seventeen Suffragist societies had united to form a stronger, larger society. Lydia Becker was elected the President of the NUWSS; she died 3 years later, leaving Millicent Fawcett as the President. Millicent Fawcett believed that is was important to campaign for a wide variety of causes, not just for the vote. (“NUWSS”, NP)Previous to the NUWSS formation Fawcett worked for the Married Women’s Property Act. In 1867 she published her book Political Economy for Beginners. She was also a member of the Liberal-Unionist group from 1887- 1903. Fawcett spent her life fighting for the women’s suffrage by giving National speaking tours, Parliamentary lobbying, and party alliances. (Uglow, Jennifer S, 171)In 1903 Emmeline Pankhurst formed the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). Members of the WSPU no longer were willing to restrict themselves to the constitutional methods used by the NUWSS. Their motto was “Deeds, not words”, which meant that they were ready to take action to get what they wanted. (“WSPU”, NP)On October 13,1905, Christabel Pankhurst (daughter of Emmeline) and Annie Kenne...
