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The Victorian Age - Queen Victoria , who came to the throne in 1837 (after George IV and William IV), gave the century her name: She and her husband; Prince Albert became symbols of "Victorian" morality and respectability. Her age was one of great changes.
The industrial reforms had been introduced:
* slave trade and slavery had been forbidden
* religious tolerance was granted to all
* industrial towns were given seats in Parliament
* the right to vote was extended to more people (which brought Britain closer to a real
democracy)
* working hours for women and children in factories werde limited
* criminal law was reformed (e.g. no longer the death peanalty for steeling a sheep)
* education was improved (it became cumpulsary in 1876)
Sozial Legislation:
* Factory Act 1833,
Collieries Act (1842, women and children under 9 were not to work underground)
* Ten-Hours Act (1847, limited the working day of women and young persons)
* Factory Act (1864, on Saturdays factories were closed at two o´clock and the other five
working days were limited to ten and a half hours per day)
* Employment of child chimney sweeps was forbidden in 1864
* Gangs Act (1868, forbad gang labour of children under eight)
A number of Reform Acts, beginning in 1832, gave the vote to an increasing number of people: the middle classes (1832), the industrial workers (1867), the rural population (1884), women (1918 and 1928) and, finally, in 1969 the young (18 plus).
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