The Victorian Era

1. The Victorian Era An Overview of the �Periods�

2. Early period (1830�48): �Time of Troubles� Dramatic change: improvement of the railroads Reform Parliament Reform Bill of 1832 voting privileges to the lower middle classes redistributed parliamentary representation to break up the conservative landowner's monopoly of power

3. Early period (1830�48): �Time of Troubles� Economic distress: Even with the reform attempts, England's economic troubles could not be entirely solved. By the end of this �Time of Troubles� The Chartists A large organization of workers Drew up a �People�s Charter� in 1838 Advocated: Further extension of the right to vote Secret-ballot Legislative reform Finally succeeded in introducing important economic reforms: the repeal of the Corn Laws Introduction of a system of Free Trade.

4. The Middle period (1848�70) - "The Age of Improvement� Time of overall prosperity: general social satisfaction further growth of the empire Improving trade and economic conditions. the Great Exhibition of Hyde Park, & other events: celebrated with renewed vigor industry Technology science

5. The Middle period (1848�70) - "The Age of Improvement� Religion: Church of England: had evolved into three major divisions conflicting beliefs about religious practice Rationalist challenges to religion: Utilitarianism, developed by Jeremy Bentham and James Mill Keeps only that which is truly �useful� Greatest good for the greatest number of people science Thomas Henry Huxley Charles Darwin. "Higher Criticism" Perception of the Bible as a mere historical text.

6. The Late Period (1871-1901) A time of changing attitudes Colonialism Rebellions and war in the colonial territories public increasingly more aware of the costs of empire Industrialization scientific advancement Challenges to Britain�s �world power� status: emergence of Bismarck's Germany threats to English naval and military positions expansion of the American grain industry driving down the price of English grain Socialist movements grew out of discontentment,

7. The Late Period (1871-1901) �Dying Victorianism� in literature: Melancholy spirit in the writing of the end of the century. Oscar Wilde's making a pun of "earnest," a typical and sincerely used mid-Victorian word Typical of a dying sense Victorianism.