Page 1: Social and Political Foundations
The Victorian Age established fundamental changes in British society through comprehensive reforms and social developments. The period saw Britain emerge as the "workshop of the world" with significant legislative changes affecting voting rights and education.
Highlight: The Reform Bills of 1832, 1867, and 1884 progressively expanded voting rights from landowners to include middle-class men, urban workers, and finally agricultural workers.
Definition: Workhouses were institutional facilities providing accommodation and food in exchange for labor, though under notably harsh conditions.
Example: The Education Act of 1870 made elementary education compulsory for children up to age 8, marking a revolutionary step in British literacy.
The period also faced significant challenges, including:
Vocabulary: Slums - overcrowded urban areas where poor people lived in deplorable conditions.
Quote: "Great urban poverty people lived in horrible conditions" exemplified the stark reality of the industrial revolution's social impact.