Women's Suffrage: A Short History of a Great Movement

by Millicent Garrett Fawcett

In her book Women's Suffrage; A Short History of a Great Movement, Millicent Garrett Fawcett compares the tactics of the NUWSS and the WSPU. The NUWSS and the WSPU between 1905 and 1911 adopted different election policie. The WSPU cry in every election was "Keep the Liberal out," not, as they asserted, from party motives, but because the Government of the day, and the Government alone, had the power to pass a Suffrage Bill; and as long as any government declined to take up suffrage they would have to encounter all the opposition which the militants could command. The NUWSS adopted a different election policy - that of obtaining declarations of opinion from all candidates at each election and supporting the man, independent of party, who gave the most satisfactory assurances of support. Millicent Fawcett was born in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England the daughter of an East Anglian merchant. Her only formal schooling was at Blackheath, London (1859-62). She was involved from an early age in the women's movement through her sister Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and her friend Emily Davies. In 1867 she married Henry Fawcett, Professor of Economics at Cambridge and Radical MP for Brighton, and their daughter Philyppa was born the following year. His blindness necessitated her learning to work as his political secretary, and in 1874 she published Political Economy for Beginners. Her real effort was alwáys devoted to women's rights. She was on the first suffrage committee in 1867, and also worked for the Married Woman's property Act, while her house in Cambridge was the base for the women's lecture scheme from which Newnham College developed. After Henry's death in 1884 she became more involved, worki?g for social purity with the Vigilance Society, and founding a separate suffrage society with Lydia Becker in 1886. In 1897 she reunited the movement, becoming President of the National Union of Women Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). During these years she was also known as a national political figure, a member of the Liberal-Unionist group (1887-1903), a frequent visitor to Ireland and speaker against Home Rule, and leader of a women's commission to investigate concentration camps in South Africa in the Boer War. After the Boer War, interest in the suffrage question was revived wiôh the Pankhursts' militant campaigns, and Millicent strengthened the constitutionalist campaign with tireless national speaking tours, parliamentary lobbying, and party alliances. At the outbreak of World Wa I in 1914, although opposed by pacifists in the NUWSS, she urged the membership to devote its energies`to the War effort; but in 1916 she pressed again for enfranchisement, wèich was recommeîded by a Parliamentary Conference (1917) and passed by roth Houses (1918). She then resigned her presidency but continued to campaign for full suffrage (1928) and for professional opportunities and legal rights. She wrote several books on famous women, including Life of Queen Victoria ((1895)) Women's Suffrage, (a history of the Suffrage movement), (1912), ánd Women's Victory and After ((1918)). Her last work was a biography of Josephine Butler (1927). She was created DBE in 1925. Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett died in 1929.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett was an English political leader, activist and writer, known primarily as a campaigner for women's suffrage.

Fawcett was born on 11 June 1847 in Aldeburgh, to Newson Garrett, an entrepreneur, and his wife Louisa (née Dunnell). She was the eighth of their ten children.

As a child, Fawcett's elder sister Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, who became Britain's first female doctor, introduced her to Emily Davies, an English suffragist. In the biography, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Davies is quoted as saying to Elizabeth, "It is quite clear what has to be done. I must devote myself to securing higher education, while you open the medical profession to women. After these things are done, we must see about getting the vote." She then turned to Millicent: "You are younger than we are, Millie, so you must attend to that."

Aged 19, although unable to sign as a minor, Fawcett collected signatures for the first petition for women's suffrage and became secretary of the London Society for Women's Suffrage. In 1897 Fawcett became President of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, and remained so until 1919. She focused on improving women's chances of higher education, serving as a governor of Bedford College, London (now Royal Holloway) and a co-founder of Newnham College, Cambridge.

Fawcett lived to see British women win the right to vote. She died in 1929, aged 82.

Reviews

[valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a concise and eloquent recount of the women's suffrage movement up til 1911! admittedly antiquated, but it was pleasantly surprising to read some of mrs fawcett's witty criticisms of the anti-suffrage groups. a particular highlight, in response to mr gladstone's refusal to add women's suffrage to a reform bill in 1884 as it would 'overload the bill' and cause it to sink: 'so different are the traditions of the politician from the heroic traditions of the seaman, who, by duty and instinct alike, is always prompted in moments of danger to save the women first.' also interesting to read the summary of the split between the militants and constitutional suffragists - will have to read more around the topic to gauge how (understandably) partisan fawcett was.

[a 2026 attempt to actually review my reads!]

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a concise and well crafted study of the progress of the women's suffrage movement up until 1912 - which was the year of its publication. Written by Millicent Garrett Fawcett, who was President of the NUWSS, it closely examines the injustices done to women by Parliament, and by the government, observing incidents which highlight the hypocrisy of the time. While a very good and inspiring read, I would say that because of the nature of Fawcett's views there is a heavy focus on the constitutionalist method, and she tends to skim over the militant approach, addressing it in varying degrees of disapproval when she does mention it. While an overall fascinating and highly recommended read (at only 88 pages of actual text it's very short and quick) if you're looking for a more comprehensive primary overview of the women's suffrage movement then it might be worth beginning elsewhere, and reading this as something extra.

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This work is a valuable part of social history and I'm genuinely glad that it exists as the author was someone who achieved great things as part of the movement for women's suffrage. However, as a book, I didn't enjoy it as it was incredibly dry and at times felt like a list of names, dates and parliamentary bills. At only 100 pages, it's not a bad one to try if you want to know the history of the movement, but it isn't particularly compelling reading. It also didn't help that the period that it covers ended before the 1918 act that gave some women the right to vote, so the ending was a bit abrupt. At least, it ended in quite a hopeful way because Fawcett believed them to be 'on the eve of the fulfilment on our hopes' but in reality success was still six years (and a world war) away, which deflated that sense of optimism somewhat.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often wonder what it was like around the breakfast table in the Berners-Lee household as I wonder what it was like in the Garrett household with Millicent and Elizabeth; two heroic women in their chosen fields. What I particularly like about Millicent is that she doesn't criticise the Pankhursts for adopting violence but emphasises the shared goals of the suffragists and the suffragettes and acknowledges the suffering of the suffragettes in their common cause. It's laughable that Asquith was so opposed to women's suffrage and yet spent so much of his time as PM consulting Venetia Stanley on matters of state. Admirable also that Millicent sought cross party support rather than identifying with Liberal, Tory, Labour or Radical; I very much endorse that approach.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millicent Garrett Fawcett was the most influential person in women successfully gaining the right to vote by far, and she did it by reasoned argument, not a series of publicity stunts. Everyone should read this book. Anyone who wants to change the status quo should study it carefully.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insight into another side of the suffrage movement

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is great for anyone who wants to understand the political and social aspect of women's suffrage and a useful source for NEA's

[Oscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, yes!

[Misty Harrelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great background

This is a perfect book to start with if you are looking for a first hand account of the suffragist movement in England.

[Val · Rating 1 out of 5]

This edition is not formatted very well for the kindle, so I bought a different edition as well and read that.
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