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The Victorian age refers to the reign of Queen Victoria that ran from
1837 to her death in January 1901. It was a time of great
prosperity and industrial developments in the United Kingdom.
During the Victorian Age, great steps forward were taken and the
Industrial Revolution saw rapid changes and advances in many areas of
Victorian life, from medicine to technology. One of the most important
developments was the improvement in transport links.
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Railways in
particular allowed goods, raw materials, and people to move about,
which helped to facilitate trade and industry.
Stage coaches, canals, and steam ships all played their part. Famous
steam ships, SS Great Britain and SS Great Western, not only made
international travel more common, they also helped to advance trade
around the globe. The other big innovation of the era was the
standardization of postage and the introduction of the first postage
stamp.
Great feats of engineering characterized the Victorian Age. A new extensive underground sewerage system was designed for London
and although problems were encountered,
the sewerage system was eventually completed. It was followed up with
the London Underground and an expanded water supply network. A gas
network for lighting and heating was introduced in the 1880s.
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Important developments in science and natural history were made during
the Victorian era and Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution
in 1859. Anaesthetics were invented and antiseptics were introduced in
1867.
The Victorian Age in Great Britain was also a time of social and
political reform.
The population of England almost doubled during the latter half of the
19th century.
The Industrial Revolution saw vast numbers of people from rural areas
forced to migrate into the cities to look for work in the factories as
the towns and cities offered a better chance of work and higher wages.
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As Great Britain became more industrialized, the migration from
country to city accelerated and the slums grew. Child labour was an infamous part of the Victorian era and the
practice of sending children as young as five to work in factories and
mines was brought about by severe economic hardship. Large families
were common and the children of the poor were expected to earn a wage.
Children worked long hours for a pittance, often in incredibly
dangerous environments. Small boys were sent up the chimneys as
sweeps; others were employed in coal mines. Very young children worked
in factories, scrambling amongst the machinery to retrieve cotton bobbins. Factory Acts had been passed at the beginning of the century to try
and limit the working hours of children, but these had proved
ineffective. However, after much agitation, further reforms were
introduced and by 1847, an act was passed limiting both children and
adults working day.
Political reforms saw great changes in the voting system. The three
acts of 1832, 1867, and 1884, all extended voting rights to those who
had previously had none.
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Citizens further down the class ladder were given the right to vote,
which doubled the electorate in 1867, and in 1884, the right to vote
was extended to agricultural workers.
During the reign of Queen Victoria, the British Empire was continually
expanding.
The British Empire expanded to cover more than 25% of the world’s
population and area. By 1851, Queen Victoria ruled over 410 million
people. Countries governed by the British Empire included India,
Australia, Canada, South Africa, Rhodesia, Hong Kong, plus several
islands in the West Indies as well as colonies on the African Coast.
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It was a time of exciting geographical exploration into Africa and
Asia.
The reign of Queen Victoria was the longest in the history of Great
Britain and when it drew to a close at the beginning of a new century,
England entered the Edwardian era, another age of great change.
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