{"id":8279,"date":"2025-08-01T02:25:44","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T02:25:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.helpgoingvegan.info\/helpgovadmin\/?page_id=8279"},"modified":"2025-08-02T04:33:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T04:33:18","slug":"timeline","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.helpgoingvegan.info\/helpgovadmin\/index.php\/timeline\/","title":{"rendered":"Veganism Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Vegan Timeline<\/H2><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t
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1944<\/div><\/div>
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1944 \u2013 The Vegan Society is Founded<\/div>

Donald Watson, Elsie Shrigley, and a small group of ethical vegetarians break away from the Vegetarian Society to form The Vegan Society in November 1944. The term \u201cvegan\u201d is coined by Watson, combining the beginning and end of \u201cvegetarian\u201d \u2014 symbolising both the origin and completion of the movement toward nonviolence. Watson defines veganism not simply as a diet, but as the direct opposition to the exploitation of sentient life. This founding moment marks the beginning of a moral movement grounded in justice, not just health or compassion.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1945<\/div><\/div>
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1945 \u2013 First AGM of the Vegan Society<\/div>

The Vegan Society holds its first Annual General Meeting. Now more than a handful of determined individuals, the Society begins organising around clear goals. While early communications describe veganism as avoiding dairy and eggs, the ethical stance of opposing exploitation remains present from the beginning. Watson continues corresponding with members, reinforcing veganism as a moral opposition to all use of sentient life.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1950<\/div><\/div>
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1950 \u2013 Leslie Cross Demands a Clear Ethical Definition<\/div>

Leslie Cross, frustrated with the food-only focus of early vegan publications, calls on the Vegan Society to define veganism ethically. He writes a letter to the Society\u2019s newsletter arguing that veganism should reject \u201cthe use of animals by man for any purpose whatsoever.\u201d This moment prompts the Society to evolve from \u201cnon-dairy vegetarianism\u201d to a moral position against all exploitation \u2014 a defining shift for the movement.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1951<\/div><\/div>
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1951 \u2013 Leslie Cross Strengthens the Ethical Core<\/div>

Leslie Cross plays a pivotal role in redefining veganism beyond diet. He argues that merely avoiding animal food products is not enough \u2014 veganism must mean the complete rejection of the use of animals for any purpose. This year marks the first time The Vegan Society formally articulates veganism\u2019s ethical foundation: to end the exploitation of animals altogether.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1954<\/div><\/div>
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1954 \u2013 \u201cSurge of Freedom\u201d and Broadening the Vision<\/div>

The Vegan Society refines its understanding of veganism into two broad aspects: Focus \u2013 The moral rejection of animal exploitation Scope \u2013 Recognition that veganism relates to human injustice, environmental destruction, and systemic exploitation This is one of the first recorded moments where what we now call intersectionality begins to take root in vegan thought.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1954<\/div><\/div>
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1954 \u2013 “The Surge of Freedom” Speech Advocates Broader Justice<\/div>

In a landmark address titled \u201cThe Surge of Freedom,\u201d Leslie Cross frames veganism as encompassing two broad aspects: the liberation of non-human animals, and the creation of a just and peaceful human society. He explicitly links veganism to wider ethical concerns such as war, racism, and exploitation \u2014 decades ahead of intersectional discourse. This speech stands as one of the earliest articulations of veganism as a comprehensive social justice philosophy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1956<\/div><\/div>
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1956 \u2013 The Plantmilk Society is Founded<\/div>

Leslie Cross assists founder Arthur Ling to launch the Plantmilk Society \u2014 a groundbreaking step toward vegan alternatives to dairy. Its aim is to create ethical and nutritious plant-based milks, eventually evolving into Plamil Foods, one of the first vegan food companies in the world. This shift shows how veganism wasn\u2019t just about philosophy \u2014 it demanded practical, scalable solutions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1958<\/div><\/div>
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1958 \u2013 Eva Batt Joins the Vegan Society<\/div>

Eva Batt, one of the earliest and most influential vegan advocates, joins the Vegan Society. She would go on to be a Council member for nearly two decades and played a vital role in outreach, community support, and practical vegan living. Her writing, including \u201cWhat\u2019s Cooking?\u201d and other cookbooks, made plant-based eating more accessible for everyday people.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1961<\/div><\/div>
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1961 \u2013 Plamil Foods is Incorporated<\/div>

Plamil (short for \u201cplant milk\u201d) becomes one of the world\u2019s first fully vegan food companies, founded in the UK by Arthur Ling and others from the Vegan Society. Ling, a committed ethical vegan, is motivated by the desire to provide alternatives that reflect the values of non-exploitation. He ensures that all Plamil products avoid animal use entirely \u2014 from ingredients to production. Plamil sets an early ethical standard that would later influence the certification and labelling practices of vegan products worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1962<\/div><\/div>
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1962 \u2013 Eva Batt Opens First All Vegan Shop<\/div>

Eva Batt opens one of the world\u2019s first dedicated vegan shops from her home in Enfield, London. Far from a polished retail space, her kitchen became a hub for distributing vegan goods and literature \u2014 offering staples like soya flour, egg replacers, and hand-packed items. This grassroots effort was instrumental in building community support long before veganism was mainstream.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1964<\/div><\/div>
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1964 \u2013 Vegan Society of America Formed<\/div>

Early American vegans begin organising under the banner of the \u201cVegan Society of America.\u201d Although informal and short-lived, this marked the first recorded attempt to create a structured vegan community in the U.S. It helped sow seeds that would later contribute to formal vegan movements and publications in North America.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1965<\/div><\/div>
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1965 \u2013 Brigid Brophy Makes the Moral Case in the Mainstream<\/div>

Novelist and critic Brigid Brophy publishes an essay in the Sunday Times titled \u201cThe Rights of Animals.\u201d In it, she challenges the moral status quo, asking: \u201cOnce we cease to believe that God gave man dominion over the beasts… what right have we to do them harm?\u201d This marks one of the first serious public critiques of speciesism in post-war Britain and helps lay the groundwork for academic animal rights theory.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1970<\/div><\/div>
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1970 \u2013 The Term \u201cSpeciesism\u201d Is Coined<\/div>

British psychologist Richard Ryder coins the term \u201cspeciesism\u201d in a pamphlet protesting animal experimentation. He defines speciesism as an unjust prejudice \u2014 discriminating against beings simply because they are not human. This term becomes a conceptual cornerstone of modern animal rights philosophy, influencing Peter Singer, Tom Regan, and countless others in articulating veganism as part of a broader anti-oppression ethic.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1971<\/div><\/div>
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1971 \u2013 Rosalind Godlovitch and the Birth of Philosophical Animal Rights<\/div>

Philosopher Rosalind Godlovitch co-edits the landmark collection Animals, Men and Morals, a foundational text in modern animal ethics. Alongside Stanley and John Harris, she argues that non-human animals have moral value independent of their usefulness to humans \u2014 and that vegetarianism and veganism are ethical obligations, not lifestyle choices. This book introduces many themes that would later be echoed in Regan\u2019s and Francione\u2019s work, and kickstarts serious academic debate on animal rights.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1973<\/div><\/div>
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1973 \u2013 The Word \u201cVegan\u201d Appears on a Product Label<\/div>

Plamil Foods begins using the word \u201cvegan\u201d on its packaging. This is the first known commercial use of \u201cvegan\u201d on a food product, signalling a shift toward clearer consumer communication and product integrity. It helps establish a precedent for transparent labelling and ethical branding in the plant-based market.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1976<\/div><\/div>
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1976 \u2013 \u2018Vegan Views\u2019 Magazine Launched<\/div>

Vegan Views, an independent UK publication, begins circulating to discuss veganism as a philosophy and lifestyle \u2014 not just food. It provides a platform for ethical debate, animal liberation thought, environmental critique, and anti-capitalist vegan perspectives. Run by volunteers, it preserves the intellectual and moral backbone of veganism during a time of growing commercialisation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1976<\/div><\/div>
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1976 \u2013 The Vegan Society Launches a Dedicated Office<\/div>

For the first time, The Vegan Society moves into a dedicated physical office in the UK. This marks a formal shift from grassroots and home-based administration to a more structured and visible operation. The office helps coordinate publications, outreach, and volunteer work more efficiently during a time of growing interest.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1979<\/div><\/div>
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1979 \u2013 Vegan Society Becomes a Registered Charity<\/div>

The Vegan Society is officially registered as a UK charity. This formal recognition provides financial and organisational stability, allowing the Society to expand its public education and outreach efforts. It marks the end of the movement\u2019s early phase and paves the way for more global visibility in the 1980s and 90s.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1984<\/div><\/div>
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1984 \u2013 Surge in Direct Action<\/div>

Groups like the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) escalate non-violent direct action campaigns across the UK, US, and Europe. These actions bring attention to vivisection, factory farming, and animal testing \u2014 often filmed covertly to expose hidden suffering. While controversial, these tactics spark widespread discussion about the limits of peaceful protest in the face of systemic violence.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1989<\/div><\/div>
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1983 \u2013 Tom Regan Publishes ‘The Case for Animal Rights’<\/div>

Philosopher Tom Regan publishes The Case for Animal Rights, a major work arguing that animals have inherent value as ‘subjects-of-a-life’. Unlike utilitarian arguments, Regan defends the idea that animals have rights regardless of outcomes or human benefit. This book becomes a foundational text in rights-based vegan advocacy and academic philosophy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1989<\/div><\/div>
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1989 \u2013 Televised Animal Rights Debate with Regan, Ryder, and Other<\/div>

A televised debate titled \u201cThe Animal Rights Debate\u201d airs in 1989, featuring Tom Regan, Richard Ryder, Andrew Lindsey, and opponents of animal rights. Broadcast widely in the UK and watched by 1m+ people, it brings rights-based and ethical arguments into the mainstream public discourse. Regan\u2019s calm moral clarity and Ryder\u2019s articulation of speciesism contrast with the utilitarian and anthropocentric views of critics \u2014 sparking new awareness and controversy. And the audience overwhelmingly voting on the night that the idea should be granted.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1992<\/div><\/div>
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1992 \u2013 \u201cPoint\/Counterpoint\u201d Debate Highlights Ethical Divide<\/div>

In 1992, The Animals\u2019 Agenda publishes a landmark article titled \u201cPoint\/Counterpoint,\u201d featuring contrasting views from Tom Regan, Gary Francione, and Ingrid Newkirk. Regan and Francione argue for rights-based, abolitionist veganism \u2014 rejecting welfare reform and animal use entirely. In contrast, Newkirk (PETA) defends incremental welfare improvements as pragmatic. This exchange captures the growing philosophical rift between abolitionism and welfarism, and marks a turning point in the movement\u2019s self-definition.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1994<\/div><\/div>
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1994 \u2013 World Vegan Day Established<\/div>

World Vegan Day is established to mark the 50th anniversary of The Vegan Society (founded November 1st, 1944). The day celebrates veganism as a principled movement and is now recognised globally with outreach, marches, and events each year. It remains a powerful opportunity to educate the public on ethics, justice, and the future of non-violence.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1996<\/div><\/div>
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1996 \u2013 Abolitionism Reasserted in \u201cRain Without Thunder\u201d by Gary Francione<\/div>

Legal scholar Gary Francione publishes Rain Without Thunder, the first book-length defence of abolitionist animal rights since Regan. He critiques the rise of \u201cnew welfarism\u201d \u2014 advocacy that accepts animal use as long as it is \u201chumane\u201d \u2014 arguing that such reforms entrench exploitation rather than end it. Francione calls for veganism as a moral baseline, setting the stage for his later development of the Six Abolitionist Principles. This work revives and clarifies the original anti-use stance of early veganism.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

2015<\/div><\/div>
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2015 \u2013 Veganism Declared a Protected Belief in Law (UK)<\/div>

UK legal precedents begin recognising ethical veganism as a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010. This means employers and institutions must not discriminate against ethical vegans for their principles or lifestyle. It represents an important moment of legitimacy and rights recognition for vegan thought.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

2024<\/div><\/div>
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2024 \u2013 80 Years of the Vegan Society<\/div>

The Vegan Society celebrates its 80th anniversary \u2014 marking eight decades of unwavering advocacy for nonviolence and justice. Veteran and new abolitionist voices reaffirm the original principles: not dietary preference, but a moral stance against exploitation of sentient life. The movement continues to evolve, rooted in clarity, compassion, and courage.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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