Women's Freedom League , Sheffield Branch

The Sheffield branch of the Women's Freedom League (1908-1919) was founded in Dec 1908, a year after the beginning of the parent body. That, in turn, had been constituted by dissenting members of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). All levels of the overall group classed themselves as a militant organisation, but refused to attack persons or property other than ballot papers, unlike the WSPU. Furthermore, they operated on the basis of party democracy that had been the initial cause of the break from the WSPU. The body continued its activities until the 1918 bill granting women limited franchise. The organisation was wound up in May 1919.