The Victorian Era

An Overview of the “Periods”

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

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.

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

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.

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,

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.