Victorian Era Social and Technological Transformation

• The Victorian era was a time of great technological and social innovation, with a focus on morality and higher standards of living.

• The political agenda during the era was increasingly liberal, with a number of shifts in the direction of gradual political reform, improved social reform, and the widening of the franchise.

• The population of England and Wales almost doubled from 16.8 million in 1851 to 30.5 million in 1901, and Scotland's population also rose rapidly, from 2.8 million in 1851 to 4.4 million in 1901.

• However, Ireland's population decreased sharply, from 8.2 million in 1841 to less than 4.5 million in 1901, mostly due to emigration and the Great Famine.

• Between 1837 and 1901 about 15 million emigrated from Great Britain, mostly to the United States, as well as to imperial outposts in Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.

• Thanks to educational reforms, the British population not only approached universal literacy towards the end of the era but also became increasingly well-educated; the market for reading materials of all kinds boomed.

Explore the social, political, and demographic changes in the Victorian era, including technological innovations, political and social reforms, and population trends. Learn about the impact of emigration and educational reforms on the British society.