Queen Victoria Influence

On May 24, 1819, a princess was born. However, there seemed little chance that she would ever succeed as the ruling monarch of Great Britain and Ireland eighteen years later. Queen Victoria beats the odds given to her at birth and came to be one of the greatest queen and the longest reigning queen of her predecessors. Queen Victoria used her power as the queen produce a greater country, govern the citizens of Great Britain with dignity, and make the world a better place with her charity and love for others.
Born in Kensington Palace, Alexandrina Victoria was destined to a privileged life. Her father, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, was the fourth son of the reigning King George III. And Victoria's mother was Victoire of Saxe-Coburg, Princess of
Leiningen, a small German principality. Growing up, Victoria (known as “Drina”) was an only child, which challenged her mother after marring Prince Edward in hopes of having a male child. At the age of two, Victoria’s father died of pneumonia and this was also the same year his father King George III died. Victoria lived a quiet childhood in Kensington Palace with her mother and a largely German-speaking household. German was Victoria's first language. However, she soon mastered English. Not expected ever to reign as monarch, her upbringing was left largely to her mother, who saw to it that her daughter received a liberal education in music, drawing, natural philosophy, history, and foreign languages. Young Victoria showed exceptional talent with French and Italian as well as with her drawing and singing lessons. (Hibbert 23-27)
In 1830, King George IV passed away, and the succession of his brother, William IV, signaled to their eleven-year-old royal niece Victoria that she might play more important a role in British politics than her family had expected. By Victoria's teen years, it became apparent that she would be heir to the throne. This circumstance greatly altered the quiet, unassuming life she and her mother had led in Kensington Palace. (Stanley 1) Victoria's teenage years were also spent receiving visits from eligible male cousins and other young men who her mother and uncle, the King, saw as potential consorts for the future queen. Through difficult times in her life, she looked up too her uncle, Leopold, now King of the Belgians. He acted as a father figure to Victoria which caused they to have a very strong bond. Leopold offered Victoria much valuable advice, including on political matters. (Arnstein 2)
In June of 1837, eighteen-year-old Victoria placed into the throne of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In her beginning years of ruling, she was taught various topics that would allow to rule at her full potential. In October 1839, Victoria's cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg Gotha visited England once again, and this time the Queen fell very much in love with him. She proposed marriage to him, and he accepted. The two were married on February 10, 1840. They soon settled into Kensington however Albert was not given the title of “king” due to complications. Victoria initially hesitated to involve her husband Prince Albert in matters of state, she eventually came to rely on his advice and counsel as much or more than that of any person in the government. Victoria and Albert were very happy with each other. Victoria gave birth to nine children into the world in a span of eighteen years. The royal children grew up under the watchful eye of their parents, and Victoria and Albert were very serious about their education, and were the first royal couple in England to send sons to Oxford and Cambridge. (Wright 48-75) After settling into the position of Queen, Queen Victoria changed the country of England.
A great change that Victoria established in the English country would be the role of the modern monarch in a constitutional monarchy. She used her influence too place a positive change through the country. A large law placed in England that would soon be known worldwide, would be the animal cruelty laws created. She also created the first kennel club and dog shelters. Queen Victoria was very connected and loved to care for her canines. "The queen's kennels at Windsor were luxurious by the day's standards, and her dogs lived their lives in the lap of luxury," comments Caroline Kisko, current secretary of The Kennel Club. (3 Brackman) Not only did Queen Victoria share her charity with animals but also with the people around
her. Queen Victoria strived for equality of all throughout Great Britain.
She created what is now known as the Charity Organization Society which was made to coordinate the many private charities that were being created. She also installed a new law for the poor called “The New Poor Law” which was “‘based on the "principle of less eligibility,’ which stipulated that the condition of the ‘able-bodied pauper’ on relief (it did not apply to the sick, aged, or children) be less "eligible" that is, less desirable, less favorable than the condition of the independent laborer.” ( Himmelfarb, Gertrude "Welfare and Charity: Lessons from Victorian England."). Charity excited Victoria, she always strived to help others and she never failed to surprise her country. Many news articles where written about the number of charities the Queen took on. Victoria and her husband wanted to emphasize the work they were doing in the community to create a better environment. (38 Plunkett)
While reigning, England was focusing on developing industries and trade and with the control of Victoria, the once small empire had grown and doubled its size. It involved trade with Canada, Australia, India, and various locales in Africa and South Pacific. (Britannia). Also during her rule, Britain was almost free of any types of war. Which was very impressive. Also she was awarded empress of India in
1878.
Queen Victoria used her power as the queen produce a greater country, govern the citizens of Great Britain with dignity, and make the world a better place with her charity and love for others. Was one of the most phenomenal queen’s Great Britain has ever had. She is so inspiring to all young women around the world for her strong will and power as a woman to govern a whole country. There is no doubt the she is one of the greatest women of her time and she still has an impact on this world today.