VictB-History

The Victorian Era: History 1837-1901

Society
 * During the Victorian Era, there was an increasing gap between the social classes, due mainly in part to the Industrial Revolution. While the wealthy enjoyed the luxuries and entertainments of the technological advancements of the day, the poor lived in slums, w[[image:Queen_Victoria.jpg align="right"]] orking in factories for subsistance-level wages.
 * There were approximately 4% more women than men in the British population, which meant that roughly 750,000 women were unable to marry simply because there were not enough men. This, as well as widespread poverty in cities, drove many women to become prostitues, which was strongly opposed by the Protestant church. Prostitutes themselves became a popular theme in British literature, for example, in Thomas Hood's //The Bridge of Sighs//, Charles Dicken's //Oliver Twist//, and Eliziabeth Gaskill's //Mary Barton//.

Religion
 * The clergy of both the Anglican Church and Roman Catholic were focused on saving the individuals in society who had fallen from grace, in particular, prostitutes and gamblers.
 * The Roman Catholic church instituted the Magdalene Asylums; institutions for prostitutes where they were trained to re-enter society as domestic servants.
 * Casinos started to appear in England, and the Anglican church targeted them specifically to try and put an end to gambling and drinking.

Poetry
 * The Victorian Era was a time of great social and economic change, and this was reflected in its poetry
 * Comic verse became popular during the period
 * Elizabeth Barret Browning, whose most famous poem is //Aurora Leigh//, conveyed a message of feminism
 * Previous to the Victorian Era, Biblical and moral themes took precidence in art and poetry rather than the artistic qualities themselves
 * Aestheticism emerged during the period. The artistic movement focused on visual details and beauty rather than moral value

Timeline 1837: Queen Victoria claims the throne 1845: Beginning of the potato famine in Ireland-Ireland's population decreases by 50% 1848: Cholera epidemic-nearly 2,000 deaths a week 1854: The UK declares war on Russia 1857: The Indian Mutiny-directly results in Great Britain assuming direct control over India 1859: Charles Darwin publishes //On The Origin of Species// 1888: Jack The Ripper murders 5 prostitutes 1891: The Elementary Education Act makes education for children under the age of 10 free 1901: Death of Queen Victoria

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