1. Louisiana and the Late Victorian Era
Ms. De La o
English 9

2. Louisiana
Louisiana today

3. Louisiana: a short History
Became French colony 1699
colonized by Mixture of non-elite French-speaking settlers
(claimed by LaSalle)
Creole (conservative)
Closely resembles other Caribbean creoles (Haitian, etc)
Mix of French (lexifier) & various African languages (possible basilects)
Monopoly on Louisiana trade by the French Company of the Indies
Slave and Indian revolts throughout early 18th century, due in part to solidarity of common mistreatment
1717: AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE
SLAVE REVOLTS
Map of America, including Louisiana territory ca 1720

4. NEW COMERS TO LOUISIANA
Acadians emigrate to Louisiana area throughout middle and late 18th century
1763: Louisiana ceded to Spanish at end of Seven Years’ War
Map of Louisiana under Spanish Rule
Acadians Expelled from Nouvelle France by British takeover(?)
French culture and communities remain insular under liberal Spanish rule

5. LOUISIANA AND THE UNITED STATES
1800: Napoleon forces Spain to give Louisiana back to France
1803: Louisiana Purchase
1812: Louisiana becomes 18th state of USA
10,000 French-speaking refugees from Saint Domingue (modern Haiti) arrive in Louisiana area
Mixture of whites, slaves, and free black people (free men)
Louisiana Purchase

6. FAST FORWARDING TO THE VICTORIAN ERA
The Victorian age in British history is named after Queen Victoria
Big differences in homes, schools, toys and entertainments.
Many children went to work, not to school.
who was Britain's queen from 1837 until 1901.
No TV, no computers, no central heating, no cars (until the last few years of Victoria's reign). No air travel - unless you went up in a balloon! Many children went to work, not to school.

7. FAST FORWARDING TO THE VICTORIAN ERA
Enormous changes in political and social realms
Victorian life was relatively structured.
Social classes were well-defined.
Presumably all individuals accepted their station in life and were happy within their level of society.
When an individual did move outside his/her class, he/she was generally shunned.
Even if you earned money, you would not necessarily be accepted by upper social strata

8. The Underclass
Lower than the lowest workers, many women resorted to prostitution to take care of themselves and their children.
The struggling economy and low job availability left unskilled women to face poverty, illness, and disease on the streets, many of who were elderly as well.

9. The Middle Class seamstresses, mill workers
-working on the farm, factories, and mines
-wash clothing for upper classes and are servants
-some would prepare and sell fish or make or repair nets
tradeswomen, attorneys, hoteliers engineers, teachers (school mistresses, governesses).

10. The Upper Class Exclusively for wealthy women
Lived in houses that overlooked the sea and gardens
Women of this class usually associated with others of their class.
if a woman had a good education then she might become a governess (a woman employed to teach children in a private household.)

11. Victorian Clothing
Victorian children were usually dressed like miniature adults. Boy babies often wore skirts - later a boy might wear a sailor suit.
For parties, lots of little Victorian girls wore red cloaks - perhaps because Little Red Riding Hood was a favorite nursery story.

12. Victorian Clothing
Poor children looked thin and hungry, wore ragged clothes, and some had no shoes.
Poor children had to work.
They were lucky if they went to school.
Some poor children wore second-hand boots or shoes, nicknamed 'translators'.

13. Victorian Transportation

14. Victorian Bathing Suits

15. Young Girls and the Victorian Home
Young girls were taught to supervise a household
Some members of the upper class kept an apartment “in town” or rented for the season.
Daily routine
Free time activities
Four Tea Time
included consulting with housekeeper and cook and planning meals.
Painting china, needlework, music, literature
Tea was usually poured from a silver or china tea pot.
Sandwiches and sweets (biscuits, tarts) were served.
An important social interruption.

16. Evening Entertainment
Evenings included a formal dinner (8 PM).
Families then might move into the Drawing Room to enjoy musical entertainment, provided by younger girls in the family.
Gentlemen might retire to play billiards.
On festive occasions, families might play games or have dances at the country estate.