19th Century Britain Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from a lecture on 19th-century Britain.

Queen Victoria's Reign

Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1901, marking a significant period in British history.

British Literary Phenomena

British literary works were influenced by previous periods, social-historical events, religious fragmentation, philosophical doctrines, and aesthetic views.

Queen Victoria's Ideals

Queen Victoria promoted ideals such as devoted family life, earnestness, public and private respectability, obedience to the law, and Christian morality.

British Empire Expansion

The British Empire expanded to include territories such as Afghanistan, India, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa.

Opium Wars and Afghan Wars

The Opium Wars in China and the Afghan Wars in the Middle East (1839-1842) challenged the British illusion of peace and confidence.

Indian Mutiny

The Indian Mutiny (1857-9) was a significant event that tested British authority in India.

Crimean War

In the Crimean War (1853-6), the British and French forces supported the Ottoman Turks against Russia.

Industrial Revolution Inventions

Inventions during the Industrial Revolution included the telegraph, telephone, steam power utilization, railway system, electric lamp, sewing machine, vacuum cleaner, photography, and the rotary printing press.

Laissez-faire

Laissez-faire is a doctrine advocating a free market and freedom for capitalistic enterprise.

Utilitarian Doctrine

Utilitarian doctrine focuses on national wealth and individual contentment due to social checks and balances.

Chartist Movement

The Chartist movement was driven by the working class, who believed they could achieve change by presenting charts with requests to the government.

Reform Act of 1832

The Reform Act of 1832 enfranchised all male owners of property worth between 10 to 50 pounds in annual rent.

Religious Fragmentation

Religious fragmentation included the Catholic Emancipation Act, the Oxford Movement, and debates sparked by Charles Darwin’s 'The Origin of Species'.

Urban Crowds

Urban areas suffered from filthy slums, polluted waters, smog, diseases, and other miseries.

Focus on Town Life

The novel focused on town life and social classes.

False Puritanism

Figures like Charlotte Bronte reflected false puritanism in their works.

Pastoral Nostalgia

There was nostalgia for the pastoral setting, seen as a Paradise Lost.

Industrial Revolution Concerns

The industrial revolution caused concerns about the consequences of a new era, including gloomy realities and dark technological futures.

Neo-classical features

Neo-classical features include the stress on reason and duty, with society seen as a perfectible mechanism

Romantic features

Romantic features include the stress on irrationality and feeling, with society seen as corrupted and the source of all evil.