victorianhistory

=**__Victorian History __**= Karina Soni The Victorian era centered around the rule of Queen Victoria of England (1837-1901). She was one of England's most popular female rulers of the day. People in England during this time were prospering and the middle class was expanding due to imperial expansion and political reform.

__**Politics**__

 * Reform act of 1832 - Happened about 5 years before the reign of Victoria, but still affected her rule greatly. Because of this law, which pretty much overhauled the electoral system of England, more people were able to vote and run for the House of Commons.
 * The Whig (liberal) and Torie (conservative) parties in the House of Commons emerged during this time.

__**Colonization**__ - The expansion of crown colonies all over the world was exploding at this time. Queen Victoria's most prominent colony was India. The crown had set up the East India Company, a joint-stock corporation, to be able to trade

[[image:http://www.clemson.edu/mse/Home/cotton.jpg width="161" height="143" align="right"]]
things with India and China. They produced things such as cotton, silk, indigo dye, tea, and opium. Instead of just being a company, they also held large political power in India --yielding military and administrative control over the country.
 * ===== Charter Act 1853 - This Act provided that British India would remain under the =====
 * =====administration of the Company in trust for the Crown until Parliament should decide otherwise. =====
 * In 1857, Indians rebelled against the control of the company much bloodshed on both the sides occurred. This led to the...
 * Government of India Act 1858 - Liquidated the British East India Trading company. They lost all their money and shares in the stock and went under the control of the queen.

__**Wars**__ - England in war(s).. of course. 
 * **First Opium War** - The English fought for free trade in China. This sounds like a pretty noble cause, but in truth, it really isn't. The English got the Chinese addicted to Opium, and in this war, they were fighting for their right to give the drug addicted Chinese more opium.
 * **Crimean War** - The United Kingdom declared war on Russia for the control of the failing Ottoman Empire.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Occupation of Egypt** - Took over the Suez Canal, a vital trade route to India.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">__**Social History**__
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> __**Inventions** **and Science**__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Inventions and new sciences were prominent during this era.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Railroads tracks were put down almost everywhere. Because of the RR system, people, things, and commodities [[image:http://anxietyindex.com/anxietyindex/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/origin-of-the-species.jpg width="155" height="227" align="right"]]were able to move from place to place much quicker. The railroad system also turned many small towns into bustling railroad communities.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The first sewage system in London was created in 1858. I don't think I need to explain why this is important... :)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Photography became popular at this time. Even though it was invented in 1829, it did not immediatley become popular then because of its cost and stigmas about it. But by 1900, handheld cameras were available.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The study of science became professional and credible at this time. Charles Darwin produced //On the Origin of Species// in 1859.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">__**Social Reform in the Victorian Era**__ Because of the industrial revolution, many people were being taken advantage of by textile mills and other factories. Queen Victoria tried her best to change this.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">During this era, children as young as three years old were put to work.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Factory Acts - were passed between 1802-1819 to curve the amount of time children were working in textile mills and factories to 12 hours a day. Sadly, this was ineffectual.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Because of the ineffectualness of the factory acts, another act was passed in 1847 to limit both children and adults to only working 10 hours a day. [[image:http://www.teacherlink.org/content/social/instructional/industrialrevolution/bessemersteelproduction.jpg width="196" height="129" align="right"]]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Parliament also tried to help the 'working girls' by passing the Contagious Diseases Acts. This act stated that the local constabulary could force any women to an inspection if they were suspected to have a venereal disease.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The Mines Act of 1842 prohibited any women or children to work in coal, iron, lead, or tin mining.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Elementary Education Act of 1870 - basic state education became free for every child under the age of 10

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**__Religion__**
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Christianity was threatened during the Victorian era; the church lost it's vice grip around the people of England. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Despite this, there were still many very pious people who did good things during this time, such as: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Because of the industrialization of most of England, people became much more materialistic during this time and did not go to church as much.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Because education was much more available to the people of England during this time, they no l<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[[image:http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0701/lincolln-images/StainedGlass2.jpg width="148" height="144" align="right"]] onger blindly accepted what priests told them or what the bible stated.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Science and the book <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">//On the Origin of Species// raised many questions as well. Many Victorian Christians believed, because it was stated in the bible, that man was created by god in the likeness of him, and there was nothing about evolution. This shook the foundation many Christians believed.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">William Booth and his wife who founded the Salvation Army, an organization focused on reaching the neediest of English society with the hope of Jesus Christ.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">David Livingstone - an abolitionist missionary in Africa.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> For the answers, click here.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">What book did [|Charles Darwin] come out with in 1859?
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">What did the <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Government of India Act 1858]do?
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">What was the official name of the [|'the Court Party']?
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">What animal was [|David Livingstone] mauled by?
 * 5) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Who made the first [|sewage system] in London?

Check out some other, more informational sites on Victorian history. http://www.victorianweb.org/ http://www.victorianstation.com/historymenu.htm http://trulyvictorian.netfirms.com/history.html http://www.erasofelegance.com/history/victorianreligion.html http://www.victoriaspast.com/FrontPorch/victorianera.htm