How Did The Industrial Revolution Influence The Victorian Era

The Victorian Era spanned the lifetime of its monarch, Queen Victoria, who had the longest reign in English history from 1837 to 1901. The Victorian Era was one of reforms and reconstruction of the old ways of life. It was a time where many great scientific discoveries were found, a time where the social class system went through many changes.[1]

Victorian England was very much influenced by the industrial revolution that was gripping the whole western world. The industrial revolution influenced many parts of Victorian society.

The Industrial Revolution gave mobility to those that had the money and connections to move up in the social structure. It was now possible for the middle class to mix with the aristocratic the middle class was able to rise because they were the ones that owned the factories and other benefits from the industrialization of England. [2]

The aristocracy and the middle class were now wealthy enough to completely embellish in their lavish lifestyle. As the middle classes situations bettered, the working class plight worsened.

Before the industrial revolution took such a hold in England all goods were made by skilled tradesmen. Now these men lost their jobs to the
Though the men where forced to work 12 to 14 hour days they where unable to make any where near enough to provide for their families. So the women and children also had to go to work for factory or other forms of degrading and laborious work such as chimney sweeping and mining. For the children this was devastating. Much of the work required of them was very dangerous, if a child where to fall asleep or falter in a way they could be seriously injured or killed. Often what they were exposed to while working would eventually kill them.