Victorian Age1837-1901

Queen Victoria Took throne in 1837 at age of 18 Queen for 64 years Called Empress of India Married Prince Albert from Germany

• Her first cousin• Married in 1840

Raised 9 children

Queen Victoria Forced to accept a new, virtually

powerless monarchy Privately attempted to influence

government policy and ministerial appointments

British empire reached height of wealth and power under Queen Victoria

Identified with strict moral standards

Society Increased social mobility Deeply religious

• used the Bible as foundation of moral behavior

• Bible taken as literal truth

Victorian Values Strict code of etiquette Duty Thrift Honesty Hard work Respectability

Manners Proper Gentleman

• Never speaks to a lady unless she speaks first

• Lets a lady walk along the wall

• Precedes a lady walking upstairs and follows one going down

• Never smokes in a lady’s presence

Proper Lady• Never walks alone or

unchaperoned if unmarried and under 30

• Doesn’t go alone to make a social call on a man

• Never dances more than 3 dances with the same partner

• Never wears pearls or diamonds in the morning

Roles of Women Cult of domesticity- idealization of

women and the home Spent time raising children, directing

servants, doing religious or charitable service

Roles of Women Seen as tender,

self-sacrificing caregiver

Provided nest for children and peaceful refuge for husband

Lower class women were expected to do the same

Classes Upper class didn’t work

• Inherited land and investments Upper middle class

• Business people and professionals- doctors, scientists

Lower middle class• Teachers and office workers

Working class• Factory and mine workers, tenant farmers

Upper Class

Middle Class Enjoyed wide range of

material goods• Lower middle class

struggled to keep up with their “betters”

Men performed “white-collar” work

Growing middle class Pushed their way up

the ladder Paid monthly or

annually

Lower Class Men and women

performed physical labor

Women worked in garment factories or as domestic servants

Paid daily or weekly wages

Victorian Age Time of industrial, cultural, political,

scientific, and military change Time of great expansion in British

empire Became notorious for child labor Queen Victoria known for strict

values and they spread to commoners