Who was 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.