British History: Victorian Era

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Queen Victoria ruled England from 1837 to 1901.

These years are called the Victorian Age. It was a time of marvelous inventions and great changes in society.

Victoria's Childhood

Victoria had a sad childhood.

Her father passed away when she was only eight months old, and her mother was not always kind to Victoria. She was not allowed to play with other children or do the fun things all kids do. She also had to follow very strict rules.

Victoria became queen at age 18.

Watch a portion of the video below to learn more.

Victoria and Albert Marriage

A few years later, Victoria married a prince from Germany, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. It was a happy marriage overall, and together they had nine children.

Albert's Death

Albert died in 1861 at 42, which devastated Victoria. She had relied on him for so many years that she found it almost impossible to live without him. She became very depressed and did not want to continue with the demands of being queen.

Although Victoria grieved for Albert for the rest of her life, she was eventually persuaded to return to public life.

Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli convinced her to take on the title of Empress of India when Britain took control of the country. Victoria loved the new title!

Grandmother of Europe

In her later years, Victoria became known as the Grandmother of Europe.

• Can you guess why?

Victoria's children married into royal families all over Europe. Her grandchildren became these countries' new princes and princesses, so many European countries could claim her as their grandmother.

Empire

During the Victorian Age, Britain expanded its empire greatly. It became the largest empire in history!

During Victoria's reign, the empire included a quarter of the world's population.

• Which countries can you pick out on the map as being part of the empire?

Inventions

The Victorian Age is also called the Age of Invention.

In 1851, Prince Albert helped organize a Great Exposition in London, showing Britain's inventions and innovations. It was the first World's Fair!

• What were some new things invented during this time?

• photography
• telephones
• telegraph
• typewriters
• bicycles
• automobiles
• gas lights
• electric light bulbs
• dynamite
• sterilization of medical instruments (cleaning them to remove germs)
• railroads were built all over Britain

Learn more about Victorian inventions with the following video.

Changes in Society

Victoria believed that all children should have a chance to get an education. Poor children finally had a chance to learn when a law was passed saying that all children 5 to 12 had to attend school.

Charities were established to help the poor, and orphanages opened to take in abandoned children.

Lawmakers finally began to stop factory and mine owners from using young children for labor. A law was passed saying that children could not be used as mine workers, and only children over ten could work in factories. Later on, the hours they could work were limited as well.

As the railroads made travel easy and cheap, many people were able to take trips to the seaside and enjoy the new recreation called sea-bathing. A large wheeled cart called a bathing machine would carry them from the beach into the water!

• Would you like to try sea-bathing using a bathing machine, or does that seem silly to you?

Sporting events became popular at this time, too. Many enjoyed watching sports such as rugby and football.

Music halls provided cheap entertainment as well. People could go there to watch plays and acts by comedians and listen to music.

You've learned about Victoria and the age named after her! Now, move on to the Got It? section, where you can test your knowledge and gather some facts you've learned.