The History Hub.

Reform is a word that means 'change for the better' and society means all of the people in Britain in the Victorian Era. So in other words to reform society means to change Victorian Britain for the better. There were many great things about the Victorians but there were many things that needed changing. Problems such as child labour, limited medicinal capability, homelessness and disease were all rife. These types of problems can be referred to as 'social ills'. During Victoria's reign some important people made attempts to reform Victorian social ills.

 

Lord Shaftesbury was a man who devoted his life to help improving the living and working conditions of the poor. He campaigned most of his life and caused the government to change laws which had a real effect on the lives of workers. He was responsible for the 10 Hour Act of 1847 which limited the working day of women and children. Again, in 1874, he introduced the Factory Act which made it illegal for under 14's to work in factories. He greatly influenced Doctor Barnardo and encouraged him to open his schools for boys and girls. 

 

Edwin Chadwick published a report in 1842 on the condition of public health. Basically, London did not have a proper sewage system and when people did their business it was flushed into the Thames. Of course this was the same Thames that the people drunk from, you can guess the result. Cholera was rife and it became a killer. This, combined with the Tuberculosis and Typhoid from damp, squalid living conditions meant that the rate of disease was high. Chadwick published a report showing the link between rate of disease and poor living conditions. This led to government laws that meant clean water and good drainage were a legal requirement.

 

Doctor Barnardo was an Irishman who had moved to London. He recognised that there were too many poor and homeless children who did not have an equal chance in life. To improve these conditions he opened homes to take care of orphaned children and schools to teach them. His charity 'Barnardo's' is still around today and still helping children all over the world.

 

William Booth was a profoundly religious man who offered food and shelter to the poor by founding a charit known as the the Salvation Army in 1878. The aim of the Salvation Army was to provide food, shelter and religion to the poor in the East End of London. He organised marches with brass bands on Sunday mornings and initially some of his members were put in prison for causing a nuisance. However, he opened hostles for the poor, he opened a match factory which paid child workers the appropriate rate and his Charity is still around today.

 

 

Elizabeth Anderson originally failed to get into any medical school due to the fact she was a woman. She had to move to Paris and enrol there in order to qualify. Qualify she did, and she subsequently opened a medical school to teach female doctors. She broke one boundary of female oppresion and paved the way for other female doctors to follow.

 

 

Robert Peel was the politican responsible for creating the Metropolitan Police Force. The Met officers were originally known as 'Bobbies' or 'Peelers' after their founder. Their aim was crime prevention and the original force consisted of 895 Constables, 20 Sargeants and 8 Superintendants.