A Victorian Perspective

Study Notes

Victorians viewed races as divided by physical and intellectual differences.
Belief that some races were divinely destined to lead others; this was termed “the white man’s burden,” popularized by Rudyard Kipling's poem.
It was seen as Britain's obligation to impose their superior laws and systems on native peoples.

Pressure for democratic reforms emerged post-French Revolution led to Britain's political conservatism.
The First Reform Bill (1832) limited voting rights to property owners, excluding the working class.
The Chartist Movement began in 1838, demanding a charter for social reforms, particularly the right to vote for all adult men.
Movement faced repression; leaders were arrested, and some protesters were killed, leading to its eventual dissolution.
Despite initial failure, most Chartist demands were enacted by 1914, including voting rights established in 1918 for men (21) and women (30), further extended to all women (21) in 1928.

Victorian society contrasted between moral values praised by the upper classes and pervasive social injustices.
Core values included hard work, respectability, education, female chastity, and repression of sexuality, mainly upheld by middle and upper-class standards.
Philanthropy emerged, particularly among respectable women, rooted in Puritan traditions.
Non-conformists to these values were deemed immoral, creating a reality of hypocrisy under the guise of morality.

Poverty viewed as a moral failing, treated with repressive measures, often hidden from public view.
Poor lived in overcrowded slums while a small property-owning class controlled significant land.
Poor Laws (1834) led to the removal of children from families, placing them in workhouses where they received minimal sustenance.
Victorian Age encapsulated stark contrasts of poverty and progress, visible in the disparity between public architecture and nearby slums.

revival of classical and Gothic architectural styles during this era.
Civic buildings preferred classical forms, whereas ecclesiastical and domestic works leaned towards Gothic revival (e.g., Houses of Parliament).
Notable landmarks include the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum.

The patriarchal structure dominated Victorian family life, with an authoritarian father figure.
Women's roles were confined to home management and child education, reinforcing male authority.
"Victorian" became synonymous with extreme repression of sexuality and modesty.
Queen Victoria modeled a dual representation of authority and feminine humility in her marriage.
Women broke conventional boundaries, like Marianne North, a traveler and painter, and Florence Nightingale, who revolutionized nursing.

Marked by significant social, political reforms, and technological advancements, establishing Britain as a global power.
Queen Victoria's reign was characterized by constitutional monarchy, fostering material and imperial growth, and mediating in party politics.
Ascended to the throne in 1837, married Prince Albert, had nine children, and passed away in 1901, succeeded by Edward VII.

George III (1760-1820), George IV, William IV (1830-1837), then Queen Victoria (1837-1901).
Transitioned to Edward VII (1901-1910), George V (1910-1936), followed by Edward VIII (1936-abo).
George VI (1936-1952), Elisabeth II (1952-2022), and Charles III (2022-present).

England controlled a vast empire linking them with diverse cultures, beginning during Queen Elizabeth I's reign.
The 1857 Indian Mutiny prompted the British government to take direct control of India, with Victoria crowned Empress of India in 1876.
India's resources, including tea, spices, and cotton, were crucial for Britain’s empire.
Expansion included territories like Australia (initially a penal colony), New Zealand, Hong Kong, and various African regions, crucial for controlling trade routes like the Suez Canal.