Victorian Life and Labor- A Social History

1. Victorian Life and Labor-A Social History Nick Fendinger, Mitch Poch, Drew Denoyer

2. Victorian Beliefs and Morals • Eminent Victorians followed the Bible’s teachings word for word without question • Most Victorians took the Bible’s word first, then a book called the Prayer Book which guided any spiritual matter, daily services like births and funerals, and obviously prayers for thanksgiving, sorrow etc. • Articles of religion are the Thirty-Nine Articles • Besides the Church of England, or Anglicans, Victorians were Evangalists, Roman Catholics, dissenters such as Baptists or Methodists, or believed in traditions like Spiritualism which was the belief the dead communicate with the living

3. Victorian Beliefs and Morals

4. Victorian Occupations • There were the working class people of Victorian society that were primarily excluded from society • Professions in Victorian times included: the Law, so judges and solicitors and such, the clergy, construction, civil engineers, school teachers, and physicians • Manual workers, people who worked with their hands, were divided into skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled (labourers) • Craftsmen such as blacksmiths, like Joe, were artisans and skilled craftsmen • Semi-skilled workers such as miners had less skill than the skilled workers • The unskilled workers such as railway workers were considered unskilled as they were hired for brute strength

5. Victorian Occupations

6. Victorian Past-Times and General Interests • Popular past-time in Victorian England was going to a play • Sports including swimming, bicycling, boxing, cricket, fishing, football and rugby, golf, tennis, rowing and paddling, horseback riding and racing, hunting, mountain climbing, and punting, which was similar to rowing but instead of using a paddle you would use a large stick/pole and push the boat by pushing off of the bottom of the river/stream/body of water • The rich were able to enjoy stays at seaside resorts, a.k.a vacations • New technologies allowed for cheap, public newspapers and pulp fiction for the working class • Victorians also enjoyed going to pubs and clubs to hang out, like the Three Jolly Bargeman from Great Expectations

8. Slang, Unique Words, and Expressions • Victorian slang was an essential part to England’s culture • Calling a man a brick was the highest compliment you could give a man • A sensible man is “a chap that is up to snuff” • Of the same kidney, means alike or relations • Cabbage – to steal • Gum – loud abusive language • Bloke – popular word to signify disrespectfully a man, group, party etc. • “Oh crickey!” is actually a Victorian expression

9. What they wore • There was literally an outfit for any activity, daily life, yachting, hunting, even smoking in your house had an outfit • Men always wore hats and depending on the occasion, would wear a top hat or a hat that fit for that occasion • Men generally wore suits and when cold and foggy, wore an overcoat • Women of the time usually wore dresses with the big umbrella bottom • Women would wear up to a dozen layers to fit in with the fashion • Women also wore hats, usually bonnets, and strolled along with parasols which are pretty much a silk umbrella carried around for style • Children would wear the gender appropriate clothing for the time, boys their own suits and girls dresses

10. What they wore Men Women

11. Daily Life • Very different between each social class • Very industrial society • Growing role of women • Reform for child labor • Disease was rampant

12. Daily Life- In the City Men Women/Children Pick pocketing children were “protected” Domestic Servants Factory workers Housewives • Factory workers • Merchants • Richest men would spend their time going to the “club”

14. Daily Life- In the Factory Men Women/Children 2.8 million women over age of 10 30% of the workforce Seamstresses Washerwomen Framework knitters Child labor was prominent • Long hours • Little pay • Brutal working conditions

16. Daily Life- In the Country Men Women/Children Children would often work in the mines/on farms Domestic Servants • Craftsmen • Carpenters • Blacksmiths • Tanners • Wheelwright • Farmers • Rich landowners

18. Daily Life- On the Farm • Lived basic lives • 30 pence a week • Self-sufficient • Whole family would have to work • Tenant farming was big

19. Victorian men • Men were schooled at home or at public schools • Would attend universities • Would be involved in industry • factories • Provide for the family • Men had total control over the family • He could give beatings • He “Owned” his children and wife

20. Victorian women • Education was taken almost entirely at home • Would not attend universities • Women were seen as care takers • Clean, cook, take care of the children • If they would work • Work as • house keepers, nurses, nannies • If a woman was to be married she would be under complete supervision of her husband • Husband has complete control over his wife • Beatings were legal • Could only divorce if the husband committed adultery

21. The Victorian Children • At home most didn’t have gardens large enough to play in • They would play in the woods or streets • No playgrounds • The poorer children played wherever they could find space • The upper class children would play in play rooms or nurseries

22. Living conditions • Upper class • Lots of space • Middle class • Working/poor class • Poor living conditions • Lived in cramped spaces • Poorly ventilated • No sewage systems

23. Where did they live? • Upper class • Had multiple levels • Home style consisted of Gothic or Queen Anne styles • Expensive carpets, lavish furniture, and heavy curtains • Hallways we decorated with pictures, mirrors, book cases, and tables • Abundance of color and wallpaper • Middle class • Located outside of the city • Had multiple levels • Home style consisted of Gothic or Queen Anne styles • Had a few luxuries in the home • Musical instruments • Fire place • Working class • Homes were in the city • Extremely cramped living conditions

24. Victorian houses • Gothic Revival and Queen Anne Styled • Gothic revival • Imitates the great cathedrals and castles of Europe • Pointed arch windows • Cross gables • Queen Anne • Steeply pitched roofs • Irregular shape • Patterned shingles to avoid a smoothed walled appearance • Partial full width porches • Round towers

25. Gothic homes

26. Queen Anne Homes

27. Upper class • Didn’t work • Income came from inherited land and investments • Could afford: • Fine fabrics • Expensive furniture • Horses and carriages • Servants • Tutors and cooks

28. Lower/middle class • Men performed mental or “Clean” work • Would be paid monthly or annually • Could afford: • Servants • Horses • Carriages • Stables • Multi-level homes outside of the city

29. Servant/working class • Men and women performed physical labor • Paid weekly or daily wages • Crossing sweepers • Rat catchers • Railway porters and pundits • Lived in cramped apartments in the city • Couldn’t afford many luxuries

30. Relationships between the classes • The upper classes deprived the middle classes of a voice in the political process • Working class was never involved in the political process, they would revolt and create industrial revolutions • Established trade unions • Upper class would have large amounts of land • Middle class would have a decent amount of land • Working class would

31. A true Victorian Gentleman • British aristocracy were gentlemen by right of birth • Wealthy • Educated • Clergy belonging to the church of England, army officers and members of parliament were seen as gentleman

32. Sources • http://www.victorianweb.org/ • http://www.victorianlondon.org/index-2012.htm • http://www.victoriana.com/Mens-Clothing/ • http://www.victorianlifestyle.org/?cat=9 • http://www.aboutbritain.com/articles/life-on-a-victorian-farm.asp • http://www.victorianweb.org/history/work/ • http://www.english.uwosh.edu/roth/VictorianEngland.htm • http://logicmgmt.com/1876/overview/victorian_man/victorian_father_household.htm • http://www.dreamhomesource.com/house-plans/dhs/styles/victorian-house-plans/gothic-revival-house-plans.html • http://www.qahistory.org/queen-anne-style.html • http://victoriantruth.blogspot.com/2008/07/serious-victorian-era-diseases-ranging.html