Gavin Howe
During the Victorian era, all laws in England were passed by Parliament, which had the sole authority to create, alter, and discuss laws. The period, which lasted from 1837 to 1901, was marked by a class-based society, a growing number of voters, and an expanding state and economy. The laws of the time were largely shaped by the prevailing social and economic issues, and they played a crucial role in shaping England's class structure. While the Reform Acts expanded voting rights, they were criticised for benefiting only the parliamentarians who owned land.
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What You'll Learn
The role of Parliament
During the Victorian era, all the laws in England were passed by Parliament. The Parliament had the sole authority to discuss laws, create laws, and alter existing laws. The current issues affecting society and the economy were discussed with the king, and then the members of Parliament would exercise their voting rights.
The success of England during the Victorian era depended largely on the laws that were passed. The laws in the Victorian era served the following purposes: they were designed to regulate the working hours of women and children; they were used to establish workhouses throughout the country; they provided for the payment of tithes to the Church of England; they allowed non-Anglicans to marry outside of the Church; they ensured that Anglican churches recorded births, marriages, and deaths; they gave the government the right to take control of railways in times of national emergency; they ensured that railway companies provided a minimum level of service; they tied the issuing of bank notes to gold reserves; they ensured that employers compensated injured workers; and they divided counties into Urban and Rural District Councils, with their own elected councils, and allowed women to stand as candidates.
The laws passed by Parliament were often only beneficial to Parliament members, as most of them were landowners. For example, the Corn Laws ensured that parliamentary officials could earn more profit from increased corn prices and sell corn cultivated on surplus land, but this was detrimental to the residents of Old England, who had to buy corn and faced high prices.
The Reform Acts were said to have started in the Victorian era and expanded English citizens' representation in the right to vote. The First Reform Act was passed to guarantee the right to vote to any man whose house was worth at least 10 lira. This added 217,000 voters to Parliament. As the population continued to grow, the right to vote was expanded further to many workmen and others. The Second Reform Act was enacted in 1867, adding 1,000,000 more people to the electorate and causing Parliament's members to double to almost 2,000,000 people.
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The Poor Law Amendment Act
The implementation of the Act varied across England and Wales, with fierce resistance in the North of England. The cost of implementing the Act was also high, particularly in the industrial north, which suffered from cyclical unemployment. The Poor Law Commissioners were responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Act, but they faced challenges due to the high cost of building workhouses and the unpopularity of the workhouses among the poor. Despite efforts to ban outdoor relief, parishes continued to offer it as a more cost-effective alternative to workhouses.
The New Poor Law was considered a far-reaching piece of legislation, but it was also criticised for its harsh treatment of the poor and the separation of families. Charles Dickens' novel "Oliver Twist" is a famous critique of the Poor Law, highlighting the meagre diet and harsh conditions within the workhouses. The Act was repealed in 1948 by the National Assistance Act, which created the National Assistance Board to act as a residual relief agency.
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The Factory Act
The 1833 Act was a successor to the 1819 Factory Act, which prohibited any child under the age of 9 from working and limited the workweek of children aged 9-13 to 48 hours, while also requiring them to attend school part-time. However, the 1819 Act was aimed specifically at cotton mills and lacked enforcement mechanisms, which meant that mistreatment of children in factories continued.
The enforcement of the Factory Acts was a challenging task, and it required the appointment of inspectors to ensure compliance. Despite these efforts, issues of overworking children and inadequate compensation persisted, as evidenced by a prosecution case in Macclesfield in 1849. The case highlighted the ongoing struggle to change behaviours and fully implement the laws governing factory working conditions.
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The Railway Act
The Victorian era, covering Queen Victoria's 63-year-and-seven-month reign from June 20, 1837, until her death on January 22, 1901, witnessed significant legislative developments in the United Kingdom. During this period, the country experienced a frenzy of investment and speculation in railways, with "Railway Mania" in the 1840s, leading to rapid expansion and transformation in transportation and society.
One notable piece of legislation during this era was The Railway Act of 1844, also known as the Parliamentary Train Act. This act was passed following Gladstone's Committee of Inquiry into railway policy. The key provisions of the act included:
- Government Control: The government was granted the absolute right to take control of all railways during times of national emergency.
- Fare and Freight Regulation: The act allowed the government to fix fares and freight charges.
- Minimum Service Requirement: Railway companies were mandated to operate a minimum of one train each day in both directions, travelling at a minimum speed of 12 miles per hour.
- Affordable Travel: The act focused on making travel more accessible to poorer individuals. Railway operators were required to provide third-class travel, accommodating passengers at a maximum fare of 1 penny per mile. Additionally, passengers were allowed to carry up to 56 pounds (25 kg) of luggage for free.
- Standardization: The act aimed to standardize travel experiences, ensuring that trains stopped at every passenger station.
While the act brought about important changes, it's worth noting that some railway companies reluctantly accepted the legislation. They often provided the minimum required services for third-class passengers during unpopular travel times to avoid potential revenue losses.
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The Workmen's Compensation Act
The Act represented a shift towards greater accountability and responsibility for employers regarding the safety and well-being of their employees. By enacting this legislation, Victorian England took a step towards acknowledging the inherent risks and dangers present in certain lines of work and ensuring that those engaged in such occupations had some measure of financial recourse in the event of an accident. This was particularly pertinent in an era characterised by industrialisation and the growth of hazardous industries.
While the Workmen's Compensation Act of 1897 was a notable advancement, it was not the end point of such legislation. In 1906, the Workmen's Compensation Act was expanded, introducing mandatory insurance on the part of employers and creating the first social insurance scheme in Britain. This expansion further solidified the rights of workers to receive compensation and provided a more comprehensive framework for addressing work-related injuries and fatalities.
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Frequently asked questions
All laws in England during the Victorian era were passed by the parliament. The parliament had the sole authority to discuss, create, and alter laws.
Members of parliament would discuss current issues affecting society and the economy with the king, before exercising their voting rights. The two major political parties at the time were the Liberal Party and the Conservative (or Tory) Party.
Some of the most famous laws passed in the Victorian era include the First Reform Act, the Poor Law Amendment Act, the Civil Marriages Act, the Railway Act, and the Workmen's Compensation Act.
The laws passed during the Victorian era contributed significantly to England's success during this period. They helped shape the country's class structure and expanded English citizens' representation and right to vote.
