The Victorian period, spanning from 1837 to 1901, marked significant social and political changes in Britain. It saw the rise of the middle class, who emulated the nobility by adhering to the societal conventions of the time.
While the law was favourable to women in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it no longer supported them by the nineteenth century (p.211). Violence against women was very common and in cases where a wife was accused of disobeying her husband, the court itself ordered her ten lashes (p.227). In England, in the late eighteenth century, appalling cruelty towards women from male family members was taken for granted (Memoirs of Charles Lee Lewes, 1805, II, pp.53-54). During the nineteenth century, though, the laws began to improve. Yet in Russia in 1883, villagers ‘witnessed a woman harnessed to a cart, running alongside the horse to the cheerful jeering of her husband and father-in-law who were driving, [she] was badly beaten and soon lost consciousness’ (p.209).counterfire.org for more
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Subtopic
The Victorian period formally begins in 1837 (the year Victoria became Queen) and ends in 1901 (the year of her death). As a matter of expediency, these dates are sometimes modified slightly. 1830 is usually considered the end of the Romantic period in Britain, and thus makes a convenient starting date for Victorianism. Similarly, since Queen Victoria’s death occurred so soon in the beginning of a new century, the end of the previous century provides a useful closing date for the period.Many members of this middle-class aspired to join the ranks of the nobles, and felt that acting “properly,” according to the conventions and values of the time, was an important step in that direction.Another important aspect of this period is the large-scale expansion of British imperial power. By 1830, the British empire had, of course, existed for centuries, and had already experienced many boons and setbacks. Perhaps the most significant blow to its power occurred in the late 18th century with the successful revolt of its 13 American colonies, an event which would eventually result in the formation of the United States as we now know it. During the 19th century, the British empire extensively expanded its colonial presence in many parts of Africa, in India, in the middle-east and in other parts of Asia. This process has had many long-term effects, including the increased use of the English language outside of Europe and increased trade between Europe and distant regions. It also, of course, produced some long-standing animosity in colonized regions.bbc.co.uk for more
