The Women's Rights Movement in England: 18th Century and BeyondThe 18th century was a period of slow change for women's rights in England. The Age of Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution coincided with this time in history and brought new thoughts about women's rights to England in the late 1700s. In the 1700s, women were not as concerned about the right to vote only through divorce, adultery and the right to custody of children. However, as the number of single women increased throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the concern for more rights for women became predominant (Wolbrink, November 4, 2011). By 1851, 43% of women in England were single and began to campaign frequently and sometimes forcefully for their rights (Wolbrink, November 4, 2011). Reformer and feminist Caroline Norton summed up the feelings of women in the 1700s and 1800s in her Letter to the Queen: “I do not ask for my rights. I have no rights. I have nothing but faults” (CP 148). Rights movements do not start abruptly; they often smolder well before an uprising. The 18th century is one of those simmering pots. At first, women were confined to their maternal roles, but with the rise of knowledge from the Enlightenment, they began to rise into the public sphere as activists and reformers. Many constraints and limitations were placed on women in the 1700s. Women were not allowed to vote at that time and would not coalesce into a suffrage movement until the early 1800s. Yet many women were distressed to find that, as citizens, they could not express their opinions to English society. Women could not be members of the House of Commons and could not change the law to allow women to be representatives because they could not vote (CP 146). English women were considered part of the paper environment. One thought that runs through all of these mini-movements is that women, for one of the first times in history, thought that they could change the world. References DiCaprio, Lisa et al. Lives and voices. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001. Print. Stuart, Susan and Merry Wiesner. “Women in the Age of Enlightenment”. Become visible. 3rd edition ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998. 233-269. Print.Wolbrink, Shelly. Women's right to vote. History of European women. Drury University. Burnham 205, Springfield, MO. November 11, 2011. Conference. Wolbrink, Shelly. Victorian age. History of European women. Drury University. Burnham 205, Springfield, Missouri. November 4, 2011. Conference. Wolbrink, Shelly. Course set of articles, sources and visuals for the study of history. Drury University. Burnham 205. Springfield. 2008. Print.