Concetti Chiave
- Queen Victoria's reign was notable for its duration, lasting from 1837 to 1901, and her moral influence, especially on the middle class.
- The early years of her reign saw significant material progress, social reforms like the Ten Hours Act of 1847, and Victoria's constitutional leadership.
- During Victoria's reign, the political landscape was dominated by the Liberals and Conservatives, with notable events like the repeal of the Corn Laws.
- The Chartist movement sought social reforms and voting rights for all male adults, but their demands were ultimately rejected by Parliament.
- Victorian foreign policy included military actions like the Opium War and support for Turkey in the Crimean War, highlighting Britain's global influence.
The first half of Victoria’s reign
Queen Victoria’s reign was the longest in the history of England. She came to the throne in 1837 and died in 1901. The nation identify with the Queen because her exemplary way of life and her strict code of behavior made her beloved, especially by the middle classes, who shared her moral and religious views.
The first year of Victoria’s reign was a period of unprecedented material progress, imperial expansion and also one of political developments and social reforms, like the Ten Hours Act of 1847, with limited working hours to ten a day for all labourers. The merits of these achievements partly belonged to the queen, who, in marked contrast with the other European monarchs, reigned constitutionally, avoiding the storm of revolution which spread all over Europe in 1848. She never overruled Parliament and became a mediator above party politics.
During her reign, the two main political parties where the Liberals and the conservatives, who alternated in government. The Liberals promoted a strong campaign for free trade that led to the repeal of the Corn Laws. The Corn Laws were laws which maintained the price of corn artificially high to protect the landed interests.
Between 1838 and 1848 “Chartism” played an important role drawing up the “People’s Charter” in 1838, with called for social reforms and the extension of the right to vote to all male adults. But the Chartism were refused by the House of Commons, and the movements slowly died.
About the foreign policy England was ready to fight wars to protect its trading routes. The first Opium War against China, in 1839-42, gained Britain access to five Chinese ports and the control of Hong Kong. Britain also supported Turkey during the Crimean War, between 1853 and 1856. There was also a dangerous crisis in India where native soldiers threatened British rule in 1857.
Domande da interrogazione
- ¿Cuál fue uno de los logros políticos significativos durante el reinado de la Reina Victoria?
- ¿Cómo se caracterizó la política exterior de Inglaterra durante el reinado de Victoria?
- ¿Qué papel desempeñó el "Chartismo" en el contexto social y político de la época?
Durante el reinado de la Reina Victoria, uno de los logros políticos significativos fue la promulgación de la Ley de las Diez Horas en 1847, que limitó las horas de trabajo a diez al día para todos los trabajadores.
La política exterior de Inglaterra durante el reinado de Victoria se caracterizó por su disposición a luchar en guerras para proteger sus rutas comerciales, como se evidenció en la Primera Guerra del Opio contra China y el apoyo a Turquía durante la Guerra de Crimea.
El "Chartismo" desempeñó un papel importante al redactar la "Carta del Pueblo" en 1838, que pedía reformas sociales y la extensión del derecho al voto a todos los hombres adultos, aunque finalmente fue rechazado por la Cámara de los Comunes.