Victorian era

The Victorian Era of Great Britain is considered the height of the British industrial revolution and the apex of the British Empire. It is often defined as the years from 1837 to 1901, when Queen Victoria reigned, though many historians believe that the passage of the Reform Act 1832 marks the true inception of a new cultural era. The Victorian era was preceded by the Regency era and came before the Edwardian period.

Politics

The period is ostensibly characterized as a long period of peace and economic, colonial, and industrial consolidation, temporarily disrupted by the Crimean War, although Britain was at war every year during this period. Towards the end of the century, the policies of New Imperialism led to increasing colonial conflicts and eventually the Boer War. Domestically, the agenda was increasingly liberal with a number of shifts in the direction of gradual political reform and the widening of the franchise.

Related Topics:
Crimean War - New Imperialism - Boer War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the early part of the era the House of Commons was dominated by the two parties, the Whigs and the Conservatives. From the late 1850s onwards the Whigs became the Liberals. Many prominent statesmen led one or other of the parties, including Lord Melbourne, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Derby, Lord Palmerston, William Ewart Gladstone, Benjamin Disraeli and Lord Salisbury. The unsolved problems relating to Ireland played a great part in politics in the later Victorian era, particularly in view of Gladstone's determination to achieve a political settlement.

Related Topics:
House of Commons - Whig - Conservatives - 1850s - Liberals - Lord Melbourne - Robert Peel - Lord Derby - Lord Palmerston - William Ewart Gladstone - Benjamin Disraeli - Lord Salisbury - Ireland

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In January 1858, the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, responded to the Orsini plot against French emperor Napoleon III, the bombs for which were purchased in Birmingham, by attempting to make such acts a felony, but the resulting uproar forced him to resign.

Related Topics:
1858 - Lord Palmerston - Orsini plot - Napoleon III

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In July 1866, an angry crowd in London, protesting Russell's resignation as prime minister, was barred from Hyde Park by the police; it tore down iron railings and trampled the flower beds. Disturbances like this convinced Derby and Disraeli of the need for further parliamentary reform.

Related Topics:
1866 - London

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During 1875 Britain purchased Egypt's shares in the Suez Canal as the African nation was forced to raise money to pay off its debts.

Related Topics:
1875 - Egypt - Suez Canal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1882 Egypt became a protectorate of Great Britain after British troops occupied land surrounding the Suez Canal in order to secure the vital trade route, and the passage to India.

Related Topics:
1882 - Protectorate - India

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1884 the Fabian Society was founded in London by a group of middle-class intellectuals, including Quaker Edward Pease, 17, Havelock Ellis, 25, and Edith Nesbit, 26, to promote socialism. George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells would be among many famous names to later join this society.

Related Topics:
1884 - Fabian Society - Havelock Ellis - Edith Nesbit - George Bernard Shaw - H.G. Wells

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On Sunday, November 13, 1887, tens of thousands of people, many of them socialists or unemployed, gathered in Trafalgar Square to demonstrate against the government. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Charles Warren ordered armed soldiers and 2,000 police constables to respond. Rioting broke out, hundreds were injured and two people died. This event was referred to as Bloody Sunday.

Related Topics:
November 13 - 1887 - Socialists - Trafalgar Square - Metropolitan Police - Charles Warren - Bloody Sunday

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~