VICTORIAN AGE (1837-1901)
QUEEN VICTORIA
Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 when she was 18 yrs old and ruled for 64 years until 1901.
However, she remained apart from politics
in 1840 she married Prince Albert, they had nine children and provided a model of respectability
REFORMS
Great Reform Act (1832)
voting privileges were extended to the large industrial towns
Factory Act (1833)
Children work hours were restricted.
Children from 9 to 13 maximum was 48 hours a week.
Children from 13 to 18 maximum was 72 hours a week.
The Poor Law Amendment Act (1834)
creation of workhouses
Second Reform Act (1867)
the urban male working class was enfranchised in England and Wales
Ballot Act (1872)
Secret ballot was introduced
institutions where the poor ones were offered accommodation and employment
The lifestyle circled around regimentation and puritan values of hard work and duty
VICTORIAN COMPROMISE
progress, reforms and political stability coexisted with poverty and injustice. Everything had a golden facade but hid a dirty reality.
arts
Modernity and progress were praised, however there was an increasing interest towards Gothic, Middle Age and Classicism
religion
Evangelicalism encouraged public and political actions
Industrial Revolution, raising wealth of upper and middle classes, expanding power of Britain and its empire
poverty, disease, deprivation and injustice faced by the working classes
moral beliefs and values weren't reflected in the reality of the society around them
mortality rate increased, house overcrowding, pitiful work and life conditions
New museums, London Underground, the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace
Foreign pollicy
CHINA
First Opium War (1839-42)
Britain against China
Second Opium War (1856-60)
France and Britain against China
England gained access to five Chinese ports and control of Hong Kong
INDIA
India is the biggest and the most lucrative British colony
1857
Indian Mutiny against British rule
the indian administration was kept quiet and was given fewer responsibilities
RUSSIA
CRIMEAN WAR
Britain also supported the Italian independence from the Austrians
Russia became too powerful for the Turkish Empire, Britain and France got involved because they wanted to limit Russia's power in the area
Great Exhibition 1851
CHARTISM
1838 , a group of working class headed by Feargus O'Connor radicals drew up a People's Charter
equal electoral districts, universal male suffrage, a secret ballots, paid and annually elected Parliaments
the Chartist movement soon failed
1867, Second Reform Act