Epsom+Derby+ct

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"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." My picture was on the Epson Derby in 1913 where a martyr gave her life for her beliefs in women's rights. It takes great courage to stand up for your beliefs and dedicate your life for the cause. Emily Wilding Davison, those who believed in the Women's Suffrage Movement , and different martyrs were good examples of people who showed this great courage.

Emily Wilding Davison was a member of the Women's Social and Political Union, a militant women's suffrage group in Britain. She decided to stage a dramatic protest on June 4, 1913 at the Epsom Derby, a prestigious horse race in which King Gearge V's horse, Amner was running. Emily ran onto the track from the crowd as Amner approached she appeared trying to attach a suffragette flag to the horse's bridle. The horse stumbled over her body leaving her unconscious and eventually turned a complete somersault. "She was bowled over like a nine-pin," described a witness. She was taken to a near by hospital and treated for the next four days. She never regained consciousness, and she died on June 8th. Her death helped to advance her cause. In 1918, women over the age of 30 got to vote, and in 1928, women gained voting rights equal to men.

The Women's Suffrage Movement were people who believed women, like men deserved all of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. They fought for this by making speeches, signed petitions, marched in parades, and writing articles. In the year 1848, in the U.S. Seneca Falls Convention, was the first serious deman for enfranchisement of American women. In 1869 there became a conflict between suffragists because some would not endorse the 15th Amendment giving the vote to black men. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton who were against it formed the National Women Suffrage Association on the federal level. Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe saw it as one step closer for them. They formed American Women Suffrage Association on the state level. In 1890 they united together to form the National American Women Suffrage Association. In one of her speeches, Susan B. Anthony said " It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor not we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union."

There are many people who stand up for their beliefs and even risk their life. They are known as martyrs. A couple of examples of martyrs are Joan of Arc, Nathan Hale, and Jesus Christ. Joan of Acr was born in 1412 in France. When she was twelve years old she started hearing "voices" of St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret believing them to have been sent by God. Those voices told her that it was her divine mission to free her country from the English and help the dauphin gain the French throne. They told her to cut her hair, dress in man's uniform, and to pick up the arms. At the age of seventeen Joan led France in a victory at the Battle of Orleans against England in May 1429. In 1430 she was captured and sold to the English and tried for witchcraft and heresy. On May 30, 1431 she was burned at the stake at the age of nineteen. In 1456 a second trial was held and she was pronounced innocent of the charges against her. Nathan Hale was an American Patriot in the Revolutionary war. He took the mission given from General George Washington to go behind British lines to be a spy and gain information on the British position. As Hale was returning he was captured by the British on Sept. 21, 1776 and was hung the next day. Before he was hung, he gave a speech and ended by saying, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." He was twenty-one years old. Jesus Christ was the very first Martyr in the name of God. His death on the cross for all mankind, for all generations is the first and very inportant case of martyrdom for christianity. He never denied his beliefs.

In conclusion, Emily Davison's action at the Epson Derby did in fact help further the Women's Suffrage Movement in England. The many men and women who dedicated their lives for the Women's Suffrage Movement showed great perseverence. Some of the men and women never saw that great day but their efforts did not go unnoticed. Equal rights for women eventually took place in the U.S. and many other countries. Throughout history there are many examples of men and women who died for what they believed in.