Life in Victorian Britain Flashcards
How was the Victorian era?
the Victorian era, which covered most of the 19th century in Britain, was a time of dramatic adjustment in the lives of most of the population
What development did it see?
a rapid development of the Industrial Revolution, the growth of a wide and powerful empire and advances in medicine, transport, education and commerce
What time was it for most people?
for some it was a time of great wealth and privilege, but for the majority life was hard with ling working hours in unhealthy factories or mines and overcrowded insanitary living conditions
What growth did this age see?
there was growing industrial and urban expansion which gave an affluent and pleasant life to the few at the expense of many working poor
What happened with population?
there was a huge increase in population, which nearly doubled during the century
particularly rapid in urban centers stimulated by the industrial growth that attracted more and more skilled and unskilled workers
How was the housing for the working class?
the housing was inadequate and rapidly became slums with hygiene and high mortality rate
often whole families shared one room with no running water and toilets were communal pits
What happened with children?
child labor was common and very young children were employed at minimum wages in dangerous jobs like chimney sweeping and in the coal mines
others worked as errand boys, shoeblacks, flower sellers or match sellers in the streets
What happened with author C.Dickens?
he began working at age of 12 in a blacking factory when his father was put into a debtor’s prison
what more fortunate did?
they managed to find work as apprentices to respectable trades like building or as domestic servants, but working hours were long for them too
What was the widespread poverty and harsh reality overshadowed by?
the widespread poverty and harsh reality of the working class children were overshadowed by an underclass mad up of the most vulnerable in society, often young orphans totally dependent on the support of others
what happened with destitute children?
they often turned to crime or were enrolled in criminal gangs
How were towns?
the towns were home to expanding industrial and commercial middle classes
what led the affluence of the middle classes to?
it led to an increased demand for goods and services
what did factories and workshops provide?
they provided clothes, toys? fine cutlery, silverware, pottery and glass; goods that in the previous century would only have been seen in aristocrats’ home
How were the middle classes working and living?
the middle classes were usually self employed merchants and shopkeepers who lived in large houses, educated their children and employed servants
