National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies

The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), also known as the Suffragists (not to be confused with the suffragettes) was an organisation of women's suffrage societies in the United Kingdom.

The group was founded in 1897, when Millicent Fawcett linked up a wide variety of local societies. Fawcett was the president of the society for over twenty years. The organisation was democratic, aiming to achieve women's suffrage through peaceful and legal means, in particular by introducing Parliamentary bills and holding meetings to explain and promote their aims.

In 1903, NUWSS suffered the split of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU, the "suffragettes"), who wished to undertake more militant action. Nevertheless, the group continued to grow, and by 1914 there were in excess of 400 branches throughout the country, with over 100,000 members. Many of the members were middle class, but by no means all of them, with some working class members. There were also some male members (forbidden in the suffragettes).

The group supported the First World War, but in contrast to the WSPU, it continued campaigning for women's suffrage, which was achieved in 1918. Feminist organizations