Britain - The Liberals, votes for women and social reform 1903-14

By Daisy Willans

  • Education compulsory for all children

  • The NUWSS founded

    The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies was founded by Millicent Fawcett.

  • Seehohm Rowntree's survey of York

    He found that 43% of the population lived below the poverty line (an income of £1 a week for a family of 5).

  • 40% of Boer War recruits unfit for military service

  • Charles Booth's London survey

    He discovered that almost a third of Londoners were living below the poverty line, and that there was a link between poverty and early death.

  • The WSPU founded

    Emmeline Pankhurst was a member of the Manchester branch of the NUWSS before she set up her own union.

  • General election won by the Liberal Party

    Henry Campbell-Bannerman became prime minister.

  • The School Meals Act

    Local authorities had to provide free school meals for the poorest children. By 1914, 150,000 were receiving school meals.

  • The WFL founded

    The Women's Freedom League was a split group from the WSPU; they wanted militant campaigns, but did not want to break the law.

  • The school medical service introduced

    Local authorities were told all children had to be inspected by a doctor or nurse at least once a year. Treatment had to be paid for.

  • The Children's Charter

  • The Children and Young Persons Act passed

    This act made children 'protected persons' so parents could be prosecuted if they neglected their children and it was no longer legal to ensure a child's life.

  • David Lloyd George became Chancellor of the Exchequer

  • The Old Age Pensions Act

    Pensions for people on a low income aged over 70. By 1914 there are almost 1 million pensioners.

  • The People's Budget introduced

    This controversial budget raised taxes to pay for the Liberal government's new measures.

  • The Labour Exchange Act

    Unemployed people could register and employers could find workers. By 1914 there were 400 labour exchanges.

  • 10% of married women in employment

  • The National Insurance Act

    Unemployment benefit provided for workers in trades where occasional unemployment was common. Sick pay was also provided.

  • The school medical service

    Treatment becomes free.

  • Suffragettes launched a stone-throwing operation

    This was a response to the Commons not passing the 1911 vote to extend the vote to women. 219 suffragettes were arrested.

  • The Temporary Discharge for Ill Health Act passed

    Better know as the Cat and Mouse Act, the act stated that hunger strikers could be released when they became weak. As soon as they regained their strength they were rearrested to finish their sentence.

  • The Suffragette Derby

  • Emily Wilding Davison died in hospital

  • The Representation of the People Act passed

    Women over 30 have the right to vote and to become MPs.

  • Women achieve the same voting rights as men

    Women over 21 could vote.