Scarica Età Vittoriana in Inghilterra e più Appunti in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! The Victorian Age (1830-1901) Queen Victoria: Victoria became queen at the age of 18; she was graceful and self-assured. Her reign was one of the longest in British history. In 1840 she married a German prince, Albert of Saxe-Coburg. They had nine children and their modest family life provided a model of respectability. During this time Britain changed dramatically. The growth of the British Empire: England grew to become the greatest nation on earth “The sun never sets on England”. British Empire included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Kenya and India. Colonization was a world duty. Great Britain imported raw materials such as cotton and silk and exported finished goods to countries around the world. By the mid-1800s, Great Britain was the largest exporter and importer of goods in the world. It was the primary manufacturer of goods and the wealthiest country in the world. Because of England’s success, the British felt it was their duty to bring English values, laws, customs, and religion to the “savage” races around the world. Social and political reforms: The First Reform Act (1832) granted the vote to almost all male members of middle-class. The Factory Act (1833) regulated child labour in factories. Poor Law Amendment (1834) established a system of workhouses for poor people. The Second Reform Act (1867) gave the vote to skilled working men. Trade Union Act (1871) legalised trades unions. The Third Reform Act (1884) granted the right to vote to all male householders. The woman’s question: Women’s suffrage did not happen until 1918. Positive aspects of the age: Industrial revolution: factory system emerged; for the first time in Britain’s history there were more people who lived in cities than in the countryside. Technological advances: introduction of steam hammers and locomotives; building of a network of railways. Economical progress: Britain became the greatest economical power in the world; in 1901 the Usa became the leader, but Britain remained the first in manufacturing. Crystal Palace: Crystal Palace was built for the Great Exhibition of 1851; it was destroyed by fire in 1936. It was made of iron and glass, exhibited hydraulic presses, locomotives, machine tools, power looms, power reapers and steamboat engines. It had a political purpose, it showed British economic supremacy in the world. Negative aspects of the age: There was pollution in towns due to factory activities. There was lack of hygienic conditions: houses were overcrowded, most people lived in miserable conditions; poor houses shared water supplies. The "Great stink": Epidemics, like cholera, thyphoid, caused a high mortality in towns. They came to a peak in the Great Stink of 1858. This expression was used to describe the terrible smell in London, coming from the Thames. The “Miasmas”, exhalations from decaying matter, poisoned the air. Respectability: the good example for everybody was middle-class, pater familias was an example to follow. To be respected, you had to have work, a family, you had to be a well-dressed and well-off leader, had a home and servants, you had to have respectable values and you couldn't go against society.
