Notes for Victorian Society c1840–c1900 - IB | RevisionDojo
Victorian Society c1840–c1900 Notes
Industrialization and Urbanization
The mid-19th century saw Britain as the world's leading industrial power. Factories, railways, and coal mines dominated the landscape, transforming the economy and society.
Cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham grew rapidly, often outpacing the development of adequate housing and sanitation.
Note
Urbanization led to overcrowded slums, poor sanitation, and high mortality rates among the working class.
Social Structure
Rigid Class System: Victorian society was divided into distinct classes:
Upper Class: Aristocracy and wealthy industrialists.
Middle Class: Professionals, merchants, and managers.
Working Class: Factory workers, miners, and laborers.
Social Mobility : While the class system was rigid, industrialization allowed some upward mobility, particularly for the middle class.
Example
Industrialists like Andrew Carnegie rose from humble beginnings to immense wealth, symbolizing the potential for social mobility.
Gender Roles and Family Life
Victorian ideology emphasized distinct roles for men and women:
Men: Breadwinners and public figures.
Women: Homemakers and moral guardians.
The family was seen as the cornerstone of society, with marriage being a social and economic necessity.
Note
Women had limited legal rights, including restrictions on property ownership and voting.
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens's second novel, tells the story of an orphan's journey from a harsh workhouse to London's criminal underworld and his eventual rescue. Published serially between 1837 and 1839, the novel serves as a powerful social critique of the injustices faced by the poor in Victorian England
Education and Literacy
The Elementary Education Act of 1870 made education compulsory for children aged 5-13, increasing literacy rates.
The period saw a boom in literature, with authors like Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë addressing social issues.
Example
Dickens' novels, such as Oliver Twist, highlighted the struggles of the poor and influenced social reform.
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What foundations did the Victorian era lay for modern Britain?
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Note
The Victorian era, named after Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837 to 1901, was a period of profound transformation in British society. This era witnessed the rise of the British Empire, significant technological advancements, and major social changes.
The period is often characterized by its contradictions: while it was a time of great progress, it was also marked by deep social inequalities.
The Victorian era laid the foundations for many aspects of modern British society, from its legal system to its cultural norms.
DefinitionVictorian EraA period in British history during Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901), marked by industrialization, social reform, and the expansion of the British Empire.
AnalogyThink of the Victorian era as a time when Britain was like a rapidly growing tree - its branches (society) expanding in all directions, but with roots (traditions) still firmly in the ground.
