 A Potted History of Victorian EnglandVictorian FashionThe bustle was the most distinctive feature of fashion during most of the Victorian era; it was made from a horsehair pad or a frame that puffed out the skirt at the rear. At the same time there was the jacket bodice, which was designed as a single piece with a long overskirt known as a basque. The confining bonnets and huge crinolines of Early Victorian ladies dress had given way to more relaxed mode of dress. Late Victorian tennis attire (1875) reflected this more relaxed attitude, as sports became more acceptable for women, though the skirts were still floor length and sleeves long! Bustles were starting to go out of fashion by the latter part of the century and skirts started to fit across the hips and then flare out a little at the bottom, of course they were still ankle length. Blouses and jackets were tight fitting and gloves were worn if sleeves were slightly shorter than arms length! Women were no less fashion conscious then, than now, and would even go to the length of having a rib removed to achieve the 'ideal' waist of fifteen inches, ouch! All clothes were hand sewn, by tailors and dressmakers if you could afford it. Fasteners such as hooks and laces were used and footwear was usually ankle boots, although there were ladies dancing slippers for those nights on the town. Parasols were common accessories and hats of all shapes and sizes were worn by men and women. Six-inch spring steel hatpins were used by women to secure hats, the equivalent to stiletto heels self defence wise. Men wore suits, usually dark colours and grey; shirts were white and cuffs detachable. Cravats took the place of ties and vests were usually brightley coloured. Trousers were plain or striped on occasion and for the country there were tweeds and knickerbockers (knee length pants). Military men seemed have an easy option fashion wise; it seems the Victorians liked men in uniform!
The PopulationAlso during Victoria's reign there was a steady rise in the population,this was credited to more cities with more people living in them! By 1851 there were 28 towns with a population of over 20, 000. These numbers continued to grow in leaps and bounds and the difference between countryside and city widened. There was also talk of under population in the latter years of the century as birth rates began to fall. By the 1890's the average family had fallen from 4.7 to 4.3 people and women were now being employed in a wider range of occupations. In 1840's London around 80% of children had no education at all and many found work as apprentices instead, but some unlucky ones became prostitutes. There were thousands in London alone aged between 15 to 22. For those who had work in industry it meant at least a sixteen-hour day under terrible conditions, which the adults also suffered. In 1833 it was recommended to the Textile Industry by the government that children aged between eleven and eighteen be permitted to work a maximum of 12 hours/day. Children between nine and eleven, eight hour/day and those under nine not at all, previously children as young as three had been put to work! This only addressed the problems in the one industry and child labour was rife through out the other industries too. After further protests another act in 1847 limited both adults and children to a ten-hour day. One of the most notorious of Victorian institutions was the Workhouse, which were made as unpleasant as possible to deter the 'undeserving poor' seeking aid. Apparently the distinction was, if you owed your poverty to misfortune you were 'deserving poor' and otherwise undeserving.
The Opium Wars (1839-1843 and 1856-1860)China and Great Britain first went to war in 1839, British merchants were illegally importing Opium and the Chinese government tried to put a stop to it by seizing warehouses in Guangzhou (Canton). The British sent out warships to the city in 1840 (February) and won quickly and the Treaty of Nanking was signed on August 29th 1842. A supplementary treaty was also signed on October 8th 1843 and China was forced to pay an indemnity and open five ports to British trade and residence and as if that wasn't enough, give up Hong Kong! This treaty also gave British citizens in China, the right to be tried in British courts. This led to similar demands from other Western governments, which were also granted. The second war happened in October 1856 when Guangzhou authorities bordered a British ship called the Arrow and charged the crew with smuggling. The British wanted more trading rights and used this event to start another war. They were aided by the French and the war was over by 1857. When the Chinese government refused to sanction the Treaty of Tientsin, 1858, it flared up again and led to British and French troops taking over Beijing in 1860. The Summer Palace was burned and the Chinese withdrew opposition to the 1858 treaty which opened up more trading ports and admitted Christian missionaries into China. Later the importation of Opium was legalised. It was a century of change, contrast and invention - interesting times to live in! ~ Onto Prime Ministers and miscellaneous facts ~
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