 Took throne in 1837 at age of 18  Queen for 64 years  Called Empress of India  Married Prince Albert from Germany Her first cousin Married in 1840  Raised 9 children

 Forced to accept a new, virtually powerless monarchy  Privately attempted to influence government policy and ministerial appointments  British empire reached height of wealth and power under Queen Victoria  Identified with strict moral standards

 Increased social mobility  Deeply religious used the Bible as foundation of moral behavior Bible taken as literal truth

 Strict code of etiquette  Duty  Thrift  Honesty  Hard work  Respectability

 Proper Gentleman Never speaks to a lady unless she speaks first Lets a lady walk along the wall Precedes a lady walking upstairs and follows one going down Never smokes in a lady’s presence  Proper Lady Never walks alone or unchaperoned if unmarried and under 30 Doesn’t go alone to make a social call on a man Never dances more than 3 dances with the same partner Never wears pearls or diamonds in the morning

 Cult of domesticity- idealization of women and the home  Spent time raising children, directing servants, doing religious or charitable service

 Seen as tender, self- sacrificing caregiver  Provided nest for children and peaceful refuge for husband  Lower class women were expected to do the same

 Upper class didn’t work Inherited land and investments  Upper middle class Business people and professionals- doctors, scientists  Lower middle class Teachers and office workers  Working class Factory and mine workers, tenant farmers

 Enjoyed wide range of material goods Lower middle class struggled to keep up with their “betters”  Men performed “white- collar” work  Growing middle class  Pushed their way up the ladder  Paid monthly or annually

 Men and women performed physical labor  Women worked in garment factories or as domestic servants  Paid daily or weekly wages

 Time of industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change  Time of great expansion in British empire  Became notorious for child labor  Queen Victoria known for strict values and they spread to commoners