The Idea of Early Victorian England:

The Idea of Early Victorian England:

1. 1. Contemporary Perception of Change:

   • Period Considered as: 'Age of Machinery' 1795-1881 (Thomas Carlyle). 'Industrial Revolution' and 'The Factory System' 1820-1895 (Fredirich Engels). 'Age Great Cities' 1795-1868 (Robert Vaughan. 'Era of Reason, Newspapers and Education' 1748-1832 (Jeremy Bentham) and 'Progress and Material Prosperity; A change to which the history of the old world furnishes no parallel in our country' 1800-1859 (Thomas Babington Macaulay)
   • 1851: There was a sense of novelty and faith in progress in the Great Exhibition. The notion of contemporary distinctiveness was endorsed even by those with preference for past such as Tories.

2. 2. 'Traditional' Histotiography:

   • Also considered as "era of idisinterested intelligence'" by G. M Young (1850-1880) and "Age of reform and break with tradition" by L. Woodward (1815-1870) and "age of improvement" by A Briggs (to 1869)

3. 3. Problem with the Above: The following existed untill 1870

   • The traditional economy of agriculture, old trades, artisan workshops and domestic industry,
   • The old social order of squires, parsons, tennants and labourers
   • The vitality of aristocratic politics
   • The limited social reach of education newspapers and rationalism

4. 4. Aspects of the Survival of 'Old England' Until at Least 1870:

   • Perhaps there was no Industrial Revolution as there was only 2% p.a growth (1790-1870) and there was some 'de-industrialisation'
   • The factory system and mechanisation was considered the exception. Most goods were produced by workshops and artisan production.
   • Water power was more important than steam
   • Aristocratic Politics: In 1867, 500 of rhe 658 members were of the landed elite
   • Political corruption and influence persisted until Ballot Act of 1872
   • Northcote-Trevelyan report (1854) which only allowed those entering civil service based to be based on merit wasn't implemented until 1870s
   • No compulsery state funded education untill 1870 in England, 1872 in Scotland
     • Half of the brides were illiterate in 1841, 45% in 1851 and 10% in 1901.

5. Background Perspective:

   • Lately undergone rapid and drastic change. However some argue that economic, social and cultural changes that took place were limited in scale and effect. 'Old English' aristocratic policies, small-scale production and rustic mentalities still prevailed.