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British society during the Victorian Era

Summary

  • Introduction
  • The state of the nation
  • Social classes
  • Housing
  • Victorian moral values
  • Conclusion

Summary

Introduction

Introduction

Victorian era:

-> 1837-1901

-> Economic growth

-> Coded society

Political context internationally

State of the Nation

-> strong after the defeat of Napoleon (1815)

-> Lost America (1783) but the British empire greatly expanded during the Victorian Era

->UK dominated the world

Political context domestically

Domestic context

-> “the Age of Reforms”

Series of parliamentary reforms past to make voting fairer and more accessible

->Just before the Victorian Era: Reform Act of 1832

->Second Reform Act of 1867:

-> Ballot Act of 1872

->Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act of 1883

->Representation of People Act/ Third Reform Act of 1884

->Redistribution of Seats Act 1885

-> 5.5 million men eligible to vote vs 1 million before (women and very poor still couldn't vote)

BUT WHY THEN??

Economic situation

-> Quick economic growth

-> Rapid industrialization

->Rise of new technologies (machines, railways, etc.)

->Thriving economy

-> 1850-1870-> "Golden years"

-> Low taxes + little regulation=>many opportunities

-> Emerging Middle Class-> demanded more rights

Social classes

-> Rigid class systems-> little mobility

-> 3 classes

Social classes

Upper class

-> Aristocrats, Nobles, Dukes, etc

-> Inherited wealth & status

-> Did not work + looked down on workers

Upper class

Middle class

Middle class

->shopkeepers, merchants, clerks, businessmen, bankers, doctors, etc

-> Admired hard work, education, responsibility

-> Men married when financially stable (27-30 years old)

-> Helped the Victorian economy grow and prosper

-> Became very wealthy during the Victorian era, but no noble blood, so not upper class (rigid social structure)

Working class

Working class

-> Farmers, factory workers, etc.

-> Extreme poverty

-> Horrible working conditions

-> Children needed to work (in coal mines, factories etc.)-> child labor= big problem

-> No insurance

Housing

  • lower class lived under harsh conditions
  • industrialization: improvement of the quality of life for everyone
  • mass-production made furniture more affordable
  • investment in decor and interior design

Upper classes

Upper classes

  • luxurious, opulent interiors
  • homes displayed status
  • overcrowded interiors: decorations, furniture, drapes
  • trade: expensive and exotic merchandise

Victorian morality

  • strict, coded society
  • focused on religion, hard work, personal improvement, honesty, etc
  • family and duty
  • belief in family values
  • patriarchal
  • role of men // women
  • importance of social status

Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct

  • Value of Evangilism: focused on social reform
  • Theory of Utilitarism: importance of reason
  • Empiricism Theory: development of personal values and skills

Conclusion

Era of contradictions:

-> promoting of Victorian values

-> prostitution, poor living conditions

social change and cultural development :

-> art, literature, theaters

-> play writers criticize their society in their plays, portray the hypocrisy of the people

What shocked you the most?

Sources

Sources

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/morality/an-overview-of-victorian-morality/

https://study.com/academy/lesson/victorian-code-of-morality.html

https://www.academia.edu/9959001/Victorianism_An_overview_on_the_morality_

society _and_literature_of_the_19th_century_England_1837-1901_

http://www.localhistories.org/19thcent.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_house

https://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/1871/section6/

http://victorian-era.org/working-conditions-in-the-victorian-era.html

https://sites.google.com/site/thevictorianmiddleclass/

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