The formation of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in Britain was an important step in the campaign for votes for women. Many women joined them in the fight to win the right to vote. They became known as the Suffragettes. For years they marched and demonstrated for the right to vote. They also protested in other more dangerous and violent ways to attract attention to their group with the aim of increasing support for their cause. Several women broke the law and were sent to prison.
In 1914 World War I began and thousands of men joined the armed forces. This meant that many jobs, that before had only been done by men, were taken on by women. This made it very difficult for people to argue that women should not be allowed to vote and the post-war government did not want to risk women campaigning again. In 1918, British women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote. In 1928 women were given equal voting rights with men. Since then more and more things have changed to give women in Britain equal rights to men. These things might never have happened without the determination of the WSPU, and the women who worked long hours in factories and on farms during World War I.