Victorian England

Queen Victoria: the Namesake Queen from 1837 to 1901 –Key royal personality for most of 19 th Century –Symbolizes the prosperity, expansion, and morality of 19 th -C England Raised by German mother; married German 1 st Cousin, Albert 9 children married into royalty across Europe: “The Grandmother of Europe” Had little constitutional power, but served as a beloved figurehead of the nation Longest serving female monarch of all time

British Industrialism: Early 1800s Britain led Europe toward the Second Industrial Revolution Steam Engine and large coal deposits fueled mechanization Manchester: textile industry Newcastle: Coal Mechanization split family during working hours –Many laborers earned basic wages, but skilled labor earned higher wages –Women and children often worked in factories –Shifts of working hours separated family members –More skilled fathers could send children to school English Factory Act of 1833 limited child labor: children over 9 only; required factory-paid education

British Industrialism 1847: Parliament mandated a 10- hour work day, allowing families to regroup Increased demand for raw materials increased colonial ties to India and Africa –Cotton –Rubber –Latex –Tea, coffee, sugar, cocoa Free-market Economics Adam Smith: “Invisible hand” David Ricardo: –Comparative Advantage –Benefits of free trade Thomas Malthus –Population would grow geometrically, but food production would grow arithmetically: future shortage

Parliamentary Democracy Liberalism already existed in England, so no revolution was necessary 1867: Second Great Reform Bill –Led by Conservative Benjamin Disraeli (wanted to gain support of increasingly prosperous working class) –Nearly doubled electorate, allowing nearly all urban men to vote (determined by paying taxes or having a degree) : William Gladstone, Liberal prime minister –Secret ballot, reformed officer corps, severed universities from church control –Education Act of 1870: public elementary schooling Disraeli –Conservative cared for working class –Government sponsored housing projects –Gave rights to unions to picket Gladstone and Disraeli

Ireland By 1807, Ireland represented in Great Britain’s parliament Tension remained over “Home Rule,” including demands for –Irish autonomy or control over Ireland –Land ownership reform –Tenant rights Gladstone passed two land reform acts Charles Parnell led Irish MPs in as a consolidated bloc to gain more concessions, allying with Liberal party, and then threatening Conservatives 1903: final transfer of land to tenant ownership 1914: Irish home rule approved, but implementation interrupted by WW1 Gladstone debating Irish Home rule