Victorian Liberal Reform

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Nineteenth century Britain witnessed the beginning of unprecedented liberal reform, whereby the condition of the poor was examined and made known. Rooted in the ideals of what is today known as classical liberalism, reforms in Victorian Britain were focused on improving the lives of individuals. For the first time in recorded history, a concentrated effort was made to address extreme poverty, poor working conditions, public health, and civil society, marking this era of British history as one of great reform and progressivism. Although their efforts often failed to address the root causes of such societal problems, the fact remains that they made such attempts, which have, for better or worse, changed the nature of an individual’s relationship with their government. While the Victorian era is considered to have lasted from 1837 to 1901, …show more content…

During this time, Victorian politicians began to adopt the political ideology must commonly associated with Victorian Britain. Liberalism, or classical liberalism as it is now known, had become an integral part of 19th century political thinking. Liberals of the age championed a belief in individual freedoms, limited government, and laissez-faire economics. These ideals, which were popular not just in Britain, but across the Western world, shaped the logic behind the reform movements of the time. When the Reform Act of 1867, otherwise known as the Second Reform Act, was passed, which provided enfranchisement to working class men for the very first time. Property qualifications were still in effect, however, as the calls for universal suffrage still met with resistance. However, the property threshold was reduced in the counties, allowing agricultural landowners with small amounts of land to be able to vote. As a result, the electorate double from one million to two million

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