The Women’s Freedom League was a militant organisation campaigning for women’s suffrage, the second largest in Britain after the Women’s Social and Political Union. It was founded in 1907 by women who broke away from the WSPU as a result of policy differences with its leaders, Christabel and Emmeline Pankhurst, who they accused of being undemocratic. They also felt that a small group of wealthy women like Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, Clare Mordan and Mary Blathwayt were having too much influence over the organisation.
Like the WSPU, the WFL was a militant organisation that was willing the break the law. As a result, over 100 of their members were sent to prison after being arrested on demonstrations or refusing to pay taxes. However, members of the WFL was a completely non-violent organisation and opposed the WSPU campaign of vandalism against private and commercial property. The WFL were especially critical of the WSPU arson campaign. The WFL encouraged its members to take part in non-violent militancy, such as evading the Census of 1911 and refusing to pay taxes until women were given the vote.
The Women's Freedom League grew rapidly, and soon had sixty branches throughout Britain with an overall membership of about 4,000 people. This was over twice the size of the WSPU. The WFL also established its own newspaper, The Vote.
The Women's Freedom League were the first suffrage organisation to reward imprisoned suffragettes with brooches and badges in recognition of their commitment and sacrifice to the militant cause.
Most members of the Women's Freedom League were pacifists, and so when the First World War was declared in 1914 they refused to become involved in the British Army's recruitment campaign. The WFL also disagreed with the decision of the WSPU to call off the women's suffrage campaign while the war was on. Leaders of the WFL such as Charlotte Despard believed that the British government did not do enough to bring an end to the war and supported the campaign of the Women's Peace Crusade for a negotiated peace.