Victorian England

1. Victorian England 1837-1901

2. Background • The Victorian Age took place during the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837-1901 • Began at the end of the Industrial Revolution • Although some view the period as “old fashioned” and “prudish,” England experienced great social and cultural change • Sometimes referred to as the Second English Renaissance

3. Social Changes • Growing middle class, growing wealthy commercial class • Democracy, feminism, socialism, and the formation of union among workers occurred during this time period • Darwin’s Voyage of the Beagle, which led to the theory of evolution • Freud, Marx, and Darwin all important figures during the era • The Industrial Revolution(that occurred right before the Victorian Age) increased factory manufacturing and led to urbanization

4. cultural Changes • Women wore corsets, men wore stove-pipe pants and facial hair • The Bronte sisters, Oscar Wilde, and Charles Dickens were all great novelists of this time; poetry was also popular • Combined Romantic and Neo-Classical Art and literature • New art movement: Pre-Raphaelites: Hunt, Dante, Rossetti, and Millais • Questioning of religion and Christianity

5. Queen Victoria • June 10, 1837- became Queen of England at age 18 • Married to Prince Albert of Germany on February 10, 1840 • Had nine children • After her husband’s death in 1861, she wore black for the rest of her life • Became the Empress of India in 1876 as the English extended their power • 1900: ruled more than 410 million people • January 22, 1901: died at the age of 80

6. Resources • http://www.english.uwosh.edu/roth/VictorianEngland.htm • http://www.victoriaspast.com/FrontPorch/victorianera.htm