d. The City with the First Women's Association that Discussed Suffrage in England in 1851.

 In the Annual Reports of National Society for Women’s Suffrage (1869,1872-1888), We see Mr. John Stuart Mill and Mrs. Taylor set in the scene in 1869 in London to discuss women’s rights. Mrs. Taylor spoke, “Women have been accused of acting from impulse… working at it enthusiastically for a time, but, when the novelty is over, ceasing to work. That will not be our case. We are in earnest, and we will prove to the world that when women  are in earnest they are capable of persistent energy. No delay, no obstacle, will daunt us; we do not expect to win easily or soon; we may have to work for five, ten, or fifteen years; we know that in the end we shall be successful; and we will not put off our armour until the battle is won” (London Society for Women’s Suffrage, 1869 pp. 4). The women and men at this meeting believed in their cause, and wanted to convince their society as such as well. I think it shows how much of statement novels could make at the time as they were written by women, for women. Reading their record notes was very illuminating on the conversations occurring closely to when Jane Eyre and Ruth Hall were being written. One big discovery found that was reaffirmed in secondary sources, was how much they valued education is needed to vote. They wanted to educate women to let them vote. Their goal was for educated women to get the right to vote, not women without access to voting. 

The image below is of Anne Knight taken in 1855, one of the key leaders in the suffrage movement in England. She is holding a sign that says, “By Tortured millions- By the Divine Redeemer- Enfranchise Humanity- Bid the Outraged World- BE FREE”. The beginning of the suffrage movement in England was full of women wanting change.

Frank, Victor. “Anne Knight” 1855. https://quakerstrongrooms.org/2015/09/18/the-life-of-a-photograph-and-an-extraordinary-woman/. Accessed 16 November 2020.