Victorian Era Transformation and Imperial Expansion

Victorian England (1837–1901): Society and Politics

The first phase of Victorian England featured free-market trade, characterized by the law of supply and demand and competition among traders.

Britain possessed one of the world's best merchant marine fleets.

Politically liberal, the system awarded more power to the bourgeoisie (the wealthy class), who were instrumental in setting the laws and Acts between 1832 and 1885.

Key Parliamentary Reform Acts

• The Reform Act of 1832 (First Reform): Rural seats were removed, and Parliament was divided into two main groups: Conservatives and Liberals.
• The Reform Act of 1867 (Second Reform): New sectors, such as doctors and lawyers, were added to the electorate.
• The Reform Act of 1884 (Third Reform): Established universal male suffrage, meaning all males could vote.

The year 1931 marked the first time women could vote (referring to full electoral equality).

The Victorian era's political landscape shifted due to the Liberal parties, which ultimately ensured voting rights for all workers.

Ireland and the Rise of Nationalism

Parliament initially refused self-government in Ireland, leading to the rise of Irish Nationalism. Aid was provided to immigrants.

Following the First World War (starting 1914), Great Britain eventually recognized Ireland's independence.

The English Colonial Empire

England's primary aim was to maintain and expand its empire. Since other countries sought the same territories, these frictions contributed significantly to the outbreak of the First World War.

Britain as the Foremost Colonial Power

• By 1850, Britain controlled major global trade routes.
• Settlements on the African Coast focused on the slave trade.
• Plantation colonies specialized in tropical fruits.
• Britain established both white settler colonies and exploitation colonies.

Poor harvests in 1882 and other economic factors forced many people to emigrate to other countries.

Competition in Asia

The colonization of Asia involved intense competition among global powers:

• France, England, and Holland competed for Southeast Asia.
• England and Russia vied for control of Central Asia.
• The US and Spain competed for control of the Philippines.
• Japan and Russia competed for control of China.

The British presence developed primarily in Central and South Asia, while the French focused on Indochina. Notably, China was not occupied by any single country.

The Scramble for Africa

In the early Nineteenth Century, Europeans primarily held only coastal factories and small colonies.

In the second half of the 19th century, Africa was extensively explored to map its geography.

From 1870 to 1880, England and France aggressively pursued conquest.

Major Colonial Projects

• British Project: Aimed to connect North and South Africa via railways, obtaining mineral-rich territories and areas of strategic value.
• French Project: Sought to control territory spanning from East to West across North Africa.