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Reform Act
Progressive extension of the right to vote to the middle class and then to workers. -
Queen Victoria’s reign begins
Queen Victoria comes to the throne after the death of William IV. -
Industrial Revolution in full development
Growth of railways, factories, cities. New social classes and inequalities.
Charles Dickens begins publishing (Oliver Twist, 1838). -
The Great Exhibition
Great Exhibition of Industry and Innovation: a symbol of British pride. -
Crimean war
First "modern" conflict, followed by the press. Tennyson writes The Charge of the Light Brigade. -
Charles Darwin publishes "On the Origin of Species"
Theory of evolution: strong impact on religion, science and Victorian philosophy. -
Death of Prince Albert
Husband of Queen Victoria. The queen goes into mourning and withdraws from public life for years. -
Second Reform Act
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Elementary Education Act
Introduces compulsory primary education. Mass literacy -
Queen Victoria proclaimed Empress of India
The British empire reaches its maximum colonial expansion. -
Technological and social progress
Electricity, first cars, first colour photographs.
Internal political and social tensions are also growing. -
Death of Queen Victoria
Official end of the Victorian era. The Edwardian Age begins.