This talk is about the now forgotten history of young women anarchists and the role they played in 19th century revolutionary history. Russian, English, European and later American- they were the workers behind the so-called 'great men activists ' like Bakunin and Kropotkin. Attracted to a cause that spelled freedom- from family restrictions and from oppression at work, they became terrorists, throwing bombs, shooting leaders including six kings, a US president and two Prime Ministers . So many died in prison,committed suicide or emigrated. My talk answers why anarchy appealed to women . Many were English, less violently active then their European sisters, but all saw it as a way to fight not just for freedom but later for women’s rights(as anarcho-feminists) and for the birth of trade unions. Violent action was called “propaganda of the deed” as opposed to “propaganda of the word.”- the best way to exact revenge . It was an extraordinary period of political,social and economic history - that saw the birth of socialism and trade unionism. The ideals of anarchy still exists today in those protesting environmental issues or political protest.