A FEW FACTS From The Victorian Era Study Three

Two important figures of this Era are the Prime Ministers Gladstone and Disraeli, whose contrasting views changed the course of English history. Disraeli, who was favoured by Queen Victoria, was a gregarious Tory. The rival, Gladstone, a Liberal distrusted by Queen Victoria, served more terms and oversaw much of the overall legislative development of the Era.

Two major factors that affected the population groups are fertility rates and mortality rates.

 The Industrial Revolution had a positive impact on living standards. The people had more money and could improve their standards ; therefore, a population increase was sustainable. With improving living standards, the percentage of women who were able to have children increased. Also, the greater prosperity allowed people to finance marriage and new households earlier than previously possible. With more births within marriage, marriage rates and birth rates rose together.
Class had a significant effect on mortality rates as the upper classes had a lower rate of premature death early in the 19th century than the poorer classes did. Environmental and health standards rose throughout the Victorian Era, improvements in nutrition may also have played a role. Sewage works were improved as was the quality of drinking water. With a healthier environment, diseases were caught less easily and did not spread as much. Technology was also improving, (for example, techniques to prevent death in childbirth so more women and children survived), which also led to a greater number of cures for diseases.

Gothic Revival Architecture became increasingly significant during this period. The critic John Ruskin supported this Gothic Revival, and he argued that it epitomized communal and inclusive social values.

We cannot talk of the Victorian Era without mentioning The Great Exhibition of 1851, the first World's Fair, which show-cased the greatest innovations of the century. At its centre was the Crystal Palace, a modular glass and iron structure. Photography was showed-cased at The Great Exhibition.