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The Victorian Period 1832-1901

The Victorian Period 1832-1901. (Lit Book pg. 783). Queen Victoria (1819-1901). Became queen at age 18 after the death of her uncle William IV Reigned from 1837-1901 (longest reigning British monarch) Married first cousin Albert, had 9 children, 42 grandchildren (“the Grandmother of Europe”)

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The Victorian Period 1832-1901

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  1. The Victorian Period1832-1901 (Lit Book pg. 783)

  2. Queen Victoria (1819-1901) • Became queen at age 18 after the death of her uncle William IV • Reigned from 1837-1901 (longest reigning British monarch) • Married first cousin Albert, had 9 children, 42 grandchildren (“the Grandmother of Europe”) • Had few actual powers (Britain was now a constitutional monarchy) • A national icon, identified with strict standards of personal morality. 1838 1882

  3. The British Empire at its Peak

  4. I. Relative Peace and Economic Growth • The Industrial Revolution caused the middle class to grow • increasesin production, towns, wealth, jobs, goods; andexpansion in middle class’ social and political influence. II. The Idea of Progress • Thomas Macaulay and the Victorian middle class defined progress as material improvement (counted and measured) • paved/lit streets, clean city, sober police force, numbered houses, literate citizens.

  5. III. The “Hungry Forties” • Queen Victoria's first decade of rule called the “Hungry Forties” because it was a period of economic depression (1.5 millionunemployed!). • The working conditions for children in the 1840s were terrible: 12 hour days, 6 day weeks, dangerous/mangling machines, coal mines. • London was an unpleasant city during the 1840s. There was mass amounts of growth/overpopulation: unpaved streets, pollution, the Thames full of industrial waste, sewage, run-off from graveyards (ewww). • Ireland in the 1840s was suffering from the potato famine: a million deaths, two million immigrations (to England, U.S., others).

  6. IV. The Movement for Reform • Some negative effects of Industrialization including rallies/riots, high prices (controlled by government), pollution, overpopulation of cities, etc. • Some positive results of industrialization meant better material condition of social classes: • drop in food prices • improved diet • factories and railroads = cheap postage, newspapers, furniture, clothing, travel • All men were allowed to vote in 1867. • Allwomen (over 30) were allowed to vote 1918. • Everyoneover 21 in 1928. • Children'slives were also improved by reforms: work day limited to 10 (!) hours (with a half day on Saturday); education improved (made mandatory, then free).

  7. V. Decorum and Authority • The Victorian middle class's focus concerning behavior and morals: • some ideas (sex, death, birth) glossed over, not spoken about • powerful ideas about authority • obsession with gentility and decorum • The realities of the lives of middle class women were still pretty bad: • subject to male authority • expected to marry/run the home • unmarried working-class women could become servants, middle class unmarried women could be governesses or teachers • many left unmarried when men delayed marriage for financial success

  8. VI. Intellectual Progress • Advances were made in the sciences, including beginning to understand the earth/its living creatures: • Geology : rocks and fossils • Biology: theory of evolution (Darwin) • Industrial England depended on and supported science and technology (such as chemistry and engineering).

  9. VII. Questions and Doubts • Victorian writers expressed doubts: • Does material comfort fully satisfy human needs and wishes? • Are we rightly perceiving the universe? • They also questioned the idea of exploiting the earthand mocked codes of decorum/authority • Charles Dickens portrayed the lives of decent people with happy endings, things usually working out. However, decent people often neglected, abused, and/or exploited. • Dickens attacked the hollowness, glitter, superficiality, and excesses of the Victorians' lives.

  10. XII. Victorian Drama • Oscar Wilde and George Bernhard Shaw were influenced by a world-turned-on-its-head view of life, irreverent ridicule. • Drama was moving towards realism during this time. • Changes were occurring in the theater: • smaller, more modern theaters • apron removed • gaslight (then electricity) • These changes allowed for smaller, more realistic dramas (audience views action through “fourth wall,” illusion of reality).

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