Franchise Reform (1918-28)

• Women had campaigned for the right to vote since the 19th Century, this was an essential stepping stone to further progress in quality of women's lives
• The 1928 Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act mirrored the hard-won extension of the franchise (right to vote) to some women in 1918
• Campaign groups were faced with hostile MP's who were worried that women under the age of 30 (referred to as the 'flapper vote' in newspapers) were too emotional & irresponsible to vote
• 'The National Union of Women Suffrage Societies' changed its name to the 'The National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship (NUSEC) to reflect the new focus of the campaign (get the vote for all women)
• The National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship (NUSEC) put pressure on MP's to support a fair franchise settlement; in 1926, they launched a campaign and organised regular meetings in Hyde Park
• On the 3rd of July 1926, 3500 women gathered for an equal rights procession and demonstration, which helped put societal pressure onto Male MP's and allowed for equal franchise more quickly
• From 2nd of July 1928, women over the age of 21 could vote on exactly the same basis as their brothers and fathers