Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

victorians

SOCIAL REFORM

In Victorian times, a new industrial era resulted

in a wealthy middle class. However, it also created

a vast working class that often suffered terrible

living and working conditions. Some boys worked

as chimney sweeps in wealthy homes (above).

Their plight was publicized by Charles Kingsley’s

Water Babies, and reformers such as Lord

Shaftesbury campaigned for new labor laws.

IROnCLAd bATTLESHIpS

britain kept a huge navy to

protect and control an empire

that spanned the world.

Fast gunboats and powerful

battleships—with armor-

plated wooden hulls for

protection—sailed to

areas where there was

conflict, defending

british political and

commercial interests

wherever these were

threatened.

MuSIC HALLS

Working people went to music

halls (vaudeville theaters) for cheap

entertainment. Audiences could eat and

drink while enjoying melodramas, acrobats,

comedians, and singers. Sentimental songs

were especially popular.

The Gatling gun

fired bullets at a

rate of 1,000 rounds

per minute.

Acrobats performed exciting

feats on stage in music halls.

The Martini-Henry rifle

appeared around 1871. It had

a range of 300 yards (275 m).

EMpIRE buILdIng

during Victoria’s reign, there were

dozens of small-scale wars, as the

various European nations carved

out empires in Africa and Asia. The

people who already lived in these

places stood little chance against

trained troops equipped with rifles

and automatic guns.

Victorians

1837 Victoria becomes

queen.

1842 Mines Act prevents

women and children from

working underground

in mines.

1851 great Exhibition

held in London.

1863 First underground

railroad (the Metropolitan

Line) opens, London.

1864 Factory Act bans

children under eight years

old from factory work.

1881 First electric street

lighting is installed.

1882 Married Women’s

property Act gives married

women legal ownership of

their property.

1891 primary education in

state schools becomes free.

1901 Queen Victoria dies.

HMS

Warrior

Find out more

Architecture

Industrial revolution

Transportation, history of

united kingdom, history of

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