Victorian Era

The Victorian Era pertains to the 64 year reign of Queen Victoria of England.

She reigned from 1837-1901.

Queen VictoriaBorn 1817– Died 1901

I. General OverviewA. Rapid growth of industryB. Rise to power of the industrial

middle classC. Enormous increase in populationD. Tendency of the new science to

undermine deeply held religious convictions

(continued) A. Science as reflected in literature caused a growing

disillusionment with the traditional moral values.B. Throughout the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s, an increasing

number of able writers turned their attention to current social evils.

1) plight of the poor2) Evils of child labor3) incessant conflict of middle class

and working class

II. Morals during Victorian Period A. Rooted in ReligionB. Social acceptance depended on

conformity to rigid idealsC. Education instilled moral and religious

principles

III. Society A. Class distinction was apparent / social

status was important.

B. Social pressure dictated individual behavior / virtues1. Hard work, sobriety, thrift, and

poetry were valued.2. Regular church attendance3. Support of missions and charities4. Proper dress and etiquette were

carefully observed5. Obedience to authority was very

important (Queen, parents)

IV. Social IllsA. Classes

1. Upper class – didn’t feel many troubles of society; took things for granted 2. Middle class – literate, good jobs, hard-working, wealthy 3. Lower class – extreme poverty; often uneducated

B. Child Labor 1. A result of the Industrial Revolution

2. Children had to go to work in mines and factories. 3. Low wages, long hours (50-70 per week) and poor working conditions

4. Children were often unhealthy

C. Extreme Poverty1. Caused by unemployment –

machines could do the work of men

2. Extremely low wages – barely enough to survive

3. Resulted in large families and drunkeness

4. Children were sometimes thrown out by parents – thousands of homeless kids

5. Upper classes were unaware of the the full extent of the suffering poor

6. Authors wrote about the poor in an effort to wake up the upper classes.

D. Role of Women 1. Women were ranked as “second class

citizens”2. Woman’s suffrage was not achieved until

19183. Married Women’s Property Acts

(1870-1908) broke dependency on the husband in the matters of land

4. 16 hour work days were stopped because women were viewed as frail

Industrial Revolution

Child Labor

Victorian country scene

Street scene in late 1800’s