Historical Connections to the Victorian Period

Named after its reigning monarch Queen Victoria, the Victorian period was one of the most prosperous times in British history. Not only did Britain make strides in establishing equality among different classes of society, it also continued the progress in science and technology that gained momentum during Romanticism. However, the optimism for progress was tempered by a decline in moral toward the end of the Victorian age. The burdens of maintaining a global empire took its toll on the British population, while at the same time people continued to suffer from famine, poverty, exploitation, and disenfranchisement.

Essential Question

• What were the important historical, political, and cultural events of the Victorian period?