Posted: February 9th, 2023

Queen Victoria’s politics and the way they have changed Great Britain

Queen Victoria’s politics and the way they have changed Great Britain
Queen Victoria, who ruled as the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 to 1901, had a significant impact on the politics of Great Britain during her reign. Her politics were shaped by her conservative views and her belief in the importance of maintaining social order and stability.
One of the most significant ways in which Queen Victoria influenced the politics of Great Britain was through her backing of the Conservative Party. Victoria was a strong supporter of Prime Minister Robert Peel and his Conservative government, which implemented a number of important reforms, including the repeal of the Corn Laws, which lowered tariffs on imported grains, and the creation of the modern police force. This support helped to solidify the Conservative Party as the dominant political force in Great Britain during Victoria’s reign.
On foreign policies, she was a strong advocate of maintaining the British Empire and expanding it through colonization and conquest. During her reign, Britain acquired control of large parts of Africa and Asia, including Egypt, Sudan, India, and parts of China. These acquisitions helped to establish Britain as a global superpower, but they also contributed to the growing tensions between Britain and other colonial powers, such as France and Germany.
Also, her politics had an impact on domestic policy. She was a strong advocate of traditional values and social order. She believed in the importance of maintaining the social hierarchy and the role of the monarchy as a symbol of stability and continuity. This led to her support of policies that reinforced the power of the upper classes and limited the rights of the working class. For example, her government passed the Public Health Act of 1848, which aimed to improve sanitation and public health, but it also reinforced class distinctions by providing better services to the upper classes and neglecting the needs of the working class.
Queen Victoria’s politics also had an impact on the role of women in society. She was a strong advocate of traditional gender roles and believed that women should be confined to domestic and maternal duties. This led to her support of policies that reinforced the traditional gender roles, such as the Married Women’s Property Act of 1882, which limited the property rights of married women.
Queen Victoria’s politics had a significant impact on the politics of Great Britain during her reign. Her conservative views and belief in maintaining social order and stability led to her support of the Conservative Party, expansion of the British Empire, reinforcement of class distinctions and traditional gender roles. These policies had both positive and negative effects on Great Britain, shaping the country’s political and social landscape for decades to come.

Works Cited
“Queen Victoria.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Victoria-queen-of-United-Kingdom.
“Queen Victoria and the British Empire.” History Today, History Today, www.historytoday.com/archive/queen-victoria-and-british-empire.
“Queen Victoria and the Working Class.” History Today, History Today, www.historytoday.com/archive/queen-victoria-and-working-class.
“Queen Victoria and Women’s Rights.” History Today, History Today, www.historytoday.com/archive/queen-victoria-and-womens-rights.