Reign of Queen Victoria 1837-1901 Queen Victoria is still the longest reigning monarch in British history. She ascended to the throne at the age of 18. By this time Britain was firmly established as a constitutional monarchy, so Queen Victoria had little personal power. However, Britain was at the height of its power (politically, economically, militarily) during her reign, so she had a high profile with her name attached to the time period – the Victorian era. Some scholars actually start the Victorian Era in 1832, at the time of the Reform Act. Victoria’s personal influence came more in the area of behavior, she was known for a strict sense of morality.

Victorian Reforms 1832 – Reform Act of 1832 gave solid middle class men the vote and redistributed parliamentary districts (boroughs) to take the rapidly growing cities into account. (Whig) 1842 – Mines Act barred women and small boys from the mines. (Conservative) 1846 – Repeal of the Corn Laws (Whigs with some high ranking Conservative support including Robert Peel) 1847 – Ten Hours Act limited the workday for women and children in the textile industry to 10 hours (Whig) The two main political parties, Conservatives (also called Tories) and Liberals (also called Whigs) traded off holding the majority in the House of Commons. Both courted the support of the common man (even though he couldn’t vote it was important to British politicians to keep the masses relatively happy so they would not revolt) with reform bills.

SUMMARY OF Tories and Whigs (Conservatives and Liberals) Party of the Aristocracy Scared by the French Revolution (suspended habeas corpus, controlled the press w/Six Acts, practically ended right to assembly) Want to keep making $ after the end of the Continental System (which had helped the sales of domestic corn grown on land they owned) – Corn Laws, 1815 Did pass major reform with the Mines Act of 1842 Led by aristocrats but more friendly to the middle class Made representation in the Commons more reflective of population density, allowed the solid middle class to vote – Reform Bill of 1832 Supported the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 (joined by Tory leader Robert Peel) Limited the work day with the Ten Hours Act Habeas corpus suspension was after union demonstrations Right to assembly was curtailed after the Battle of “Peterloo” against peaceful protestors King was persuaded to support more fair representation by mass protests. He threatened to stack the Lords with newly names aristocrats if the House of Lords did not go along. They did – they didn’t want to ruin their private little club.

Victorian Accomplishments Britain at height of industrialization Production increased greatly Wages for worker climbed after 1850 (though Marx & Engels wrote the Communist Manifesto during Victoria’ reign Crystal Palace, 1851

Victorian Accomplishments British Empire spans the world During the Victorian era it was said that “the sun never sets on the British Empire”. Victoria was not just Queen of the UK, but also “Empress of India”

Victorian Accomplishments Incredible railroad building

Victorian Accomplishments Elaborate Architecture

Victorian Accomplishments Electric lights on London streets Darwin’s theory of natural selection Invention of photography

Victorian Accomplishments Attempts to make education available to all children in England (similar to Prussia)

Victorian Morals Stressed hard work and discipline (If you fell on hard times, it was your own fault.) Emphasis on public and private responsibility Devotion to family life

Victorian Morals Emphasis on Christian morality Drunkenness and gambling denounced Sexual purity and fidelity celebrated (see below) Dressed conservatively Middle class girls sequestered away, kept very busy with education and hobbies, given no time to think about the realities of life. Constantly supervised. Mom “guarded her daughter’s virginity like the family credit”. Girls went from living in Daddy’s house to marriage in husband’s house. Girls were told nothing of reproduction. The word “leg” was considered to be too sexual, so the word “limb” was substituted. Men were expected to take care of their sexual desires discretely. Needless to say, prostitution was rampant.

Augustus Egg’s Untitled Triptych Eventually titled: Past and Present 1-3 When these paintings were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1858, they had no listed title and, indeed, remained without title at Egg’s premature death in 1863. Instead, the following subtitle was affixed: 'August 4th-Have just heard that B-has been dead more than a fortnight, so his poor children have now lost both parents. I hear she was seen on Friday last near the Strand, evidently without a place to lay her head. What a fall hers has been.’ Tate online research journal

Center picture show a Victorian woman of “fallen virtue” Center picture show a Victorian woman of “fallen virtue”. Her husband has found a letter she wrote to her lover. He will not forgive her, in fact he throws her out of the house.

rrie Upper picture show the “fallen woman” living on the street cradling an infant, looking at the moon. Her two (now grown daughters) look at the same moon, mourning the loss of their father. This triptych carries out the strict Victorian code – the mother doesn’t follow the rules, she loses her life of privilege, her daughters lose contact with her.

Victorian Reality Role of women in society diminished (less work, less influence) Many people acted morally, but lived immorally (high rates of prostitution, illegal gambling) Britain ruled a large empire, but subjugated the people they ruled