British Empire in the Victorian Era

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts related to the British Empire and the Victorian Era, focusing on significant events, ideologies, movements, and influential figures.

Queen Victoria

The monarch who reigned from 1837 to 1901 and symbolized stability and duty during the Victorian Age.

Victorian Age

A period marked by the reign of Queen Victoria characterized by stability, tradition, and significant social changes.

Sadler Report (1832)

A report by Michael Sadler that revealed harsh working conditions in textile factories, leading to legal reforms.

Poor Laws (1834)

Legislation influenced by Malthusian ideology that established workhouses for the poor under punitive conditions.

Chartism

A popular movement that advocated for political reforms including universal male suffrage and secret ballots.

Liberalism

A political philosophy favored during the Victorian Era that valued individual rights and limited government.

Classical Liberalism

The form of liberalism shaped by John Stuart Mill focused on education, representation, and moral growth.

Conservative Liberalism

The ideology associated with Edmund Burke emphasizing the need for stable institutions and gradual reform.

Suffragists

Activists who advocated for women's suffrage through reasoned persuasion and lobbying Parliament.

Suffragettes

Militant activists who adopted radical methods to demand women's voting rights.

Abolition Movement

A campaign to end slavery, significantly driven by figures like William Wilberforce in the UK.

Slavery Abolition Act (1833)

Legislation that made Britain the first major Western country to end slavery.

White Man’s Burden

The belief that it was the moral duty of Europeans to civilize non-European peoples through imperialism.

Social Darwinism

A distorted application of Darwin's theory suggesting that 'superior' races were destined to rule over 'inferior' ones.

Plantation System

Colonial land system imposed by England in Ireland, transferring land from Catholic Irish to Protestant settlers.

Potato Famine

A devastating famine in Ireland triggered by potato blight in 1845, leading to mass starvation and emigration.

Malthusianism

An ideology suggesting that population growth would inevitably lead to famine and disease, justifying minimal aid.