-
Princess Victoria takes the thrown as queen of Britain
-
The Victorian era began with the succession of the throne by Queen Victoria where Britain entered a new time period.
-
The first prime minister of Victoria’s reign was the Whig politician Lord Melbourne, with whom she enjoyed a remarkably close relationship. Melbourne held significant sway over the young queen, who appointed the majority of her ladies-in-waiting according to his advice.
-
The act made Prince Albert regent if Victoria died before her heir was 18 years old, was passed by Parliament.
-
In October 1839 it was Victoria who proposed to Albert, and got married the following year.
-
Just over nine months after their wedding, Victoria and Albert’s first child, Princess Victoria, was born.
-
Victoria’s son, Albert Edward, was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester.
-
Britain defeated China in the Opium War and made China sign the Treaty of Nanking. Britain was given Hong Kong.
-
The Factory Act was an Act of Parliament which restricted the working hours of women and young persons in textile mills to 10 hours per day.
-
Fearful that the revolution in France would spread to England, Victoria and her family moved to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight for safety.
-
Written by Karl Marx, the Communist Manifesto was published in 1848 making it one of the most influential political works.
-
Ireland suffered the Great Potato Famine when entire crops of potatoes were ruined. About 800,000 people died as a result of the famine. A large number of people migrated to Britain,and other places.
-
Workhouses opened to try to help the lower class who had no money. Paid with a bed and basic food.
-
This celebration of art, science, trade and industry was opened by Queen Victoria at Crystal Palace, London.
-
War broke out in the Crimea after Russia took control of Turkish-controlled Romania.
-
Britain and France, fearing Russian expansion south, joined with Turkey to push the Russians back.
-
Officially ended the Crimean War
-
After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British East India Company dissolves and handed over control to the British crown.
-
Laid along the Atlantic Ocean, it provided near-instant communication between the two halves of the globe.
-
Written by Charles Darwin, a revolutionary scientific work of its era which is still controversial to this day.
-
Henry Temple, Viscount Palmerston won the General Election and became Prime Minister of a Liberal government.
-
Prince Albert died of Typhoid fever.
-
Bank Holiday Act introduced, allowing banks to close a few days a year
-
Benjamin Disraeli pronounced her empress of India in a move to cement Britain’s link to the jewel in the empire’s crown
-
The Education Act makes compulsory schooling for all children between 5 and 10.
-
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury was elected Prime Minister of a minority Conservative government