The Victorian Age

Apuntes

The Victorian Age - The first years of Victoria’s reign was a period of social reforms and political developments and also an imperial expansion. The merits of these achievements belonged to the queen, who reing constitutionally, avoiding revolution, she never overruled the Parliament. - Britain experienced unprecedented material progress, becoming a global industrial and colonial power. - The Great Reform Act of 1832 extended voting rights to most middle/ class men but excluded the working classes. - The Chartist movement which began in 1838, demanded broader political and social rights, including universal male suffrage. - The People’s Charter called for reforms such as secret ballots and annual parliamentary elections. - New laws were introduced to regulate working conditions in factories. - These reforms improved the lives of workers, particularly children and women. - Limited working hours to ten hours a day for all laborers. - Two dominant parties emerged liberal and conservadores. - Liberals > supported free trade leading to the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846. - The Corn Laws had kept grain prices artificially high to benefit landowners. - They wante...