"The Others" - What about Great Britain, Russia, Canada, and the US? - in class 1/29

Introduction

• Focus on key historical events and characters in Great Britain and the United States during the 19th century.

  • Mention of varying national histories, particularly focusing on challenges and reforms.

Victorian Britain

• Victorian Era: 19th century defined by Queen Victoria's reign, representing the peak of British culture.

• Political Stability: British Parliament aimed to avoid revolution, enacting reform bills to appease the masses.

  • Reform Bill of 1832: Extended voting rights to non-aristocrats and landowners.

  • Reform Bill of 1867: Major transformation, granting voting rights to many working-class men, demonstrating political responsiveness to social changes.

Nationalism and Empire Building

• Britain consolidated its empire, notably with India being a significant acquisition.

  • British cultural influence intensified during colonization.

  • White Man's Burden: Philosophical justification for imperialism rooted in perceived moral obligations to 'civilize' other nations.

• Emergence of nationalism in conquered regions leading to resistance against British rule.

Decay of Victorian Values

• As Britain expanded its empire, contradictions arose:

  • Boer War: Conflict with Dutch farmers (Boers) in South Africa revealing hypocrisy in 'civilizing' missions.

  • Irish Potato Famine: British inaction during the famine raised moral questions about their imperial responsibilities.

The United States and the Civil War

• American Civil War (1861-1865): Stemmed from deep-seated divisions over slavery and economic structures of the North vs. South.

  • Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860): His stance against the expansion of slavery sparked Southern secession.

• Outcome of the Civil War: Preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery marked significant socio-political change.

Evolution of Russian Society

• Alexander II: Czar who enacted significant reforms, including the abolition of serfdom.

  • Zemstvos: Local self-government instituted to better manage Russia’s diverse regions.

  • Alexander II and Lincoln both viewed as reformers who faced assassination.

Canadian Independence

• Canada gained independence in a peaceful manner, a rarity compared to other revolutions in the Americas.

  • British Parliament granted autonomy due to the desire to avoid conflict, reflecting changing attitudes in the British Empire.

Conclusion

• Overall, both Great Britain and the United States navigated complex transitions during the 19th century, marked by reforms aimed at addressing social injustices and evolving national identities.

• The challenges faced prompted significant political, cultural, and economic shifts both domestically and within their imperial contexts.

Concise Version

Introduction

• Overview of key historical events in Great Britain and the United States during the 19th century, focusing on challenges and reforms.

Victorian Britain

• Victorian Era: Characterized by Queen Victoria's reign, highlighting British cultural peak.

• Political Stability: British Parliament enacted reform bills to prevent revolution.

• Reform Bill of 1832: Expanded voting rights to non-aristocrats.

• Reform Bill of 1867: Granted voting rights to many working-class men.

Nationalism and Empire Building

• Britain expanded its empire, notably in India, advancing cultural influence.

• White Man's Burden: Rationalization for imperialism based on the moral duty to 'civilize'.

• Rise of nationalism in colonized regions led to resistance against British rule.

Decay of Victorian Values

• Conflicts like the Boer War and the Irish Potato Famine revealed imperial hypocrisy and raised moral concerns.

The United States and the Civil War

• American Civil War (1861-1865): Resulted from deep divisions over slavery and economic differences.

• Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860): His anti-slavery stance led to Southern secession.

• Outcome: Preservation of the Union and abolition of slavery signified major changes.

Evolution of Russian Society

• Alexander II: Czar who abolished serfdom and introduced local self-governance (Zemstvos).

Canadian Independence

• Canada achieved independence peacefully, reflecting changing British attitudes to avoid conflict.

Conclusion

• Both Great Britain and the United States underwent significant reforms in the 19th century, addressing social injustices and evolving national identities amid political, cultural, and economic changes.