The Edwardian Era Of Great Britain

The Elizabethan era, named for Queen Elizabeth who reigned from 1558-1603, was a very relaxed time in England because no wars or conflicts were happening at the time (Davis 231). Many people believe that all people lived wonderful lives in the Elizabethan era, yet most people were poor and lived hard lives. “Undeniably the span of life is shorter in the sixteenth century than it will be in subsequent ages” (Davis 162). Important parts of life in London during the Elizabethan era were social classes, living conditions, recreation, education, and gender inequality.

The timespan between the 1500s and the 1800s is commonly regarded as the “Early Modern Era” of European history. This period directly follows the Middle Ages and ends around the time of the French Revolution, which thereafter the “modern” period seemingly begins. This specific era consists of profound and significant developments in Europe’s economic history and here we can see the beginnings of capitalism. This early modern period experienced important technological advances, the Protestant Reformation and the decline of the Church, the formation of banking systems and savings, nation-state building, mercantilism and the beginnings of industrialization. The economic ideas that emerged during this period are markedly different and some times at odds with those that prevailed just right before during the Middle Ages. The early 1500’s began with a burst of economic activity, which is largely credited to the important technological advances that occurred in Europe during this time, which then led to relatively rapid economic, social and political changes throughout Europe.

One Victorian sentiment was that a civilized individual could be determined by her/his appearance. This notion was readily adopted by the upper classes and, among other things, helped shape their views of the lower classes, who certainly appeared inferior to them. In regards to social mobility, members of the upper classes may have (through personal tragedy or loss) often moved to a lower-class status, but rarely did one see an individual move up from the abysmal lower class. Although poverty could be found almost anywhere in Victorian London (one could walk along a street of an affluent neighborhood, turn the corner, and find oneself in an area of depravity and decay), most upper-class

10 hours a day from Monday to Friday and six and a half on Saturday.

Over the course of Britain’s centuries of history, events such as the industrialization of the Britain in the 19th century and many others proved to be pivotal events placing Britain as a pre-modern superpower. As described in the encyclopedia The History of World Trade Since 1450, “Britain’s mid-nineteenth century economy is often referred to as ‘the workshop of the world’ ” (Harley 396). Caused by the newly invented technological advancements, Britain began to export two-thirds of the world’s inventory made by advanced machinery. Bringing in the newly created steam engine, industries such as the iron and textile developed into major providers of wealth in the trade network of Britain. With growing industries and a source connection to

The Victorian Era or the romantic period was a time in which Queen Victoria ruled the throne. The Victorian period formally began in 1837 the year in which Victoria became the Queen of England and ended in 1901 the year in which she was laid to rest. In this paper, I will discuss Queen Victoria’s life or what we all know to be “The Victorian Era.” I will highlight some of the most powerful events that occurred during this time, the many reforms that were passed during Queen Victoria’s ruling, I will discuss the political, cultural, and social developments of this time period. I will speak about some inventions of the Victorian Era, and the two main political parties better known as the Tory and Whigs that were popular during this age. You will discover what imperialism is, the commonwealth, The British Monarch and why and how Victoria was such a remarkable monarch. I will even tell you some of the most interesting facts that I have learned to be true about Queen Victoria.

Leila wood HASS What was life like as a higher classed person in Australia in 1900? People of the upper class were very lucky. When they were born they were automatically in a wealthier family, they didn't need to work for any of their money as they already had enough. This was opposite to the poor people as they had to work hard labour for the money the earned.

In the 1500’s in Europe there is starting to become rifts in the all mighty Roman Catholic Church. King Henry VIII just wants to divorce his wife, and Martin Luther is fuming mad about indulgances and the lies that the church is telling to the people. How will this affect the Pope, and the people in England, read on to learn more about this interesting time.

The reality is that there was actually just a high natural “drive for social advancement” (The Victorian Period). The obsession with rising social class over time could involve either financial or education status (The Victorian Era). The Victorian Era provided the three notorious main stages of

Britain’s nobility strove to prevent progressive change and opted for tradition. The upper classes of society utilized several mediums to oppress the working class and preserve the closing gap with the emergence of the middle class. For example, industrialization generated a huge demand for factory workers, and women were often desirable for they were perceived less than men and would earn a fraction of their male counterparts. Thus, although this marked a positive change for women to be self-sufficient backlash emerged funded by the upper classes of society to prevent change. Women were idealized as ‘angels of the house’ while being exposed to an arguable dystopian society for the working class. Also, during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries

When queen Victoria died, the royal house tooks the name of her husband Prince Albert. Her son Edward reigned until 1910 as Edward VII. In 1904 he signe the “Entente Cordial” with France and he took care in particulary of foreign policy. In 1906 Liberal won the election and passed some laws to help three classes of people: childre, old people and workers. Children had free meals and free medical inspections. The sale of cigarettes and alchol was limitated. People over 70 had pensions. Workers had free medical treatment and unemployment wages. During the Edwardian age there were violent strikes because of high prices and law wages.

The Western world’s general population entered the eighteenth century exhausted from mercantilist wealth hoarding and struggles for power among the world’s elite. Lower class life in the Western seventeenth century seemed perpetual and unsolvable, but the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries would bring unprecedented economic and social improvement to these lower classes. Events such as the publishing of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, Watt’s “perfection” of the steam engine, and England’s abolition of the slave trade created an environment that allowed such massive change.

The family dynamic was drastically restructured during the industrial revolution. When new technology pushed many factory workers out of jobs, there was nowhere for vast amounts of uneducated men to turn. They went home with an uncertain future and no way to provide for their family. No longer could wives stay at home caring for their children all day. Children could no longer bank on a future that followed directly in the footsteps of their parents. Now families would have to come together to help supplement a combined income that would keep the family afloat. Child labor became commonplace in Great Britain. Women began to not only enter the workforce, but, thrive and push past boundaries formerly untouched by women. Times were changing and something more would have to be done to ensure a successful future.

The Victorian era society was divided into three class's upper, middle, and working class. The upper class was made of aristocrats, noble's dukes, and other wealthy families that worked in the court system. They held the most powerful positions that gave them authority, better living conditions, and other facilities. The upper class of society had rules such as the proper forms of address, what to wear that would be appropriate it was something crucial to get right. Many aristocrats did not work as for centuries together their families had been gathering enough money for each generation to live life in luxurious. The upper class was broken down into three subdivisions which were the royal class, upper middle class, and lower upper class. Middle class put pressures on the upper classes for representation which resulted in series of reform acts giving commoners increased representation in parliament.

Life can at times seem bad, even in the lives of some of the most prestigious, rich, popular people in the world. Bad hair, lack of sleep, abundance of homework, and an absence of money have the tendency to put a damper on some people's days, among other things. Too many times, though, in today's society things are taken for granted. Imagine not having a place to sleep, having no means of education, or having all hard-earned funds taken by the government, not even leaving enough to feed the family. This is how it was for Englanders in the 1800s. The condition of the working-class in 19thcentury England was, without a doubt, disgusting and miserable. The circumstances were spiraling out of control and the working class was