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Kate Sheppard: NZ Suffrage Leader

Kate Sheppard was a leader of the New Zealand women's suffrage movement who helped NZ become the first country to give women the right to vote in 1893. She was born in England but spent much of her childhood abroad and later moved to Christchurch, NZ as an adult. She helped found the New Zealand Women's Christian Temperance Union in 1885 and realized women's right to vote would help further their goals of empowering women and children. The suffrage movement made three major petitions to parliament in the 1890s, gaining more signatures each time, before the right to vote for women was successfully passed in 1893.

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430 views9 pages

Kate Sheppard: NZ Suffrage Leader

Kate Sheppard was a leader of the New Zealand women's suffrage movement who helped NZ become the first country to give women the right to vote in 1893. She was born in England but spent much of her childhood abroad and later moved to Christchurch, NZ as an adult. She helped found the New Zealand Women's Christian Temperance Union in 1885 and realized women's right to vote would help further their goals of empowering women and children. The suffrage movement made three major petitions to parliament in the 1890s, gaining more signatures each time, before the right to vote for women was successfully passed in 1893.

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Alice Smile Shi
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Kate Sheppard is known for leading the NZ womens suffrage movement.

She made NZ the first country to give women the right to vote. Katherine Wilson Sheppard (10 March 1847-13 July 1937)was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. But she spent her childhood in Nairn, Scotland and Dublin, Ireland. Her birth name is actually Catherine Wilson Sheppard but she preferred to spell it with a K and shortened her name to Kate. She later moved to Christchurch with her Mum, Jemima Crawford Souter many years after her father, Andrew Wilson Malcolm died. Kate got a good education and she was known for her intellectual ability. She married Walter Allen Sheppard and had their only child, Douglas in 8 December 1880.

In 1885, Kate became a founding member of the New Zealand Womens Christian Temperance Union which is part of a larger temperance movement. She was actually involved mainly cause of her religious beliefs which came from her Mother. The actual purpose of the WCTU was to stop the influence of alcohol in family and society. They believed that addiction to alcohol is even worse than the society problem of personal weakness and failing. They soon realised that for them to reach their goal about the welfare of women and children, it would be more effective to give women the right to vote and the right to representation of the parliament.

The movement was made to 3 major petition to the

Parliament in 1891. The first was supported in the parliament by John Hall, Alfred Saunders and the Premier, John Ballance. It was signed by 9000 women The second, in 1982 was signed by more than 19000 women. The third, which was even more larger, was presented in 1893.

That year in 1893, the right for women to vote was

successfully granted, making New Zealand the first country to give women the right to vote! Kate Sheppard was widely known as the leader of the womens suffrage movement. The Electoral Act 1893 was passed on 19 September and Kate got a telegram from the Premier, Richard Seddon, who was her previously political enemy in the House saying he conceded victory to the women.

Kate returned to England shortly after meeting the

women in England and made several influential speeches and when she came back, she was elected to be the president of the newly-founded NCW. Later on, she also involved in the production of the Councils newspaper, the White Ribbon.

In 1903, Kate stepped down from her position in the NCM due to ill

health. She and her husband moved to England planning to retire there. She did briefly stop in Canada and the United States, meeting the American suffragist, Carrie Chapman Catt. She was active in London, England in promoting the rights of women but soon couldnt continue because of her ill health. In 1904, she returned to New Zealand and relatively inactive in the political circle but she continued to write and influence NZ women. In 1916, Kate Sheppard and a group of other suffragettes we unable to revitalise the NCM which has gone into recess. Kate first husband ,Walter Allen Sheppard died in England in 19 15. Kate then married William Sydney Lovell-Smith, who then died just four years after their marriage. Kate then died in Christchurch on 13 July 1934.

Kate Sheppard is considered a huge influence of

women in the society. There is a memorial of her in Christchurch. She appears on the New Zealand ten dollar note.

http://katesheppard.com/

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