Page 7 - ASSESSMENT OF ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

and 'More Leaves' in 1868 and 1884 respectively.

Career highlights: Queen Victoria is the longest reigning British
Monarch. Her long reign saw many changes to society;
science and technology were encouraged and supported;

her many children and their foreign marriages brought
Britain connections with virtually every European
monarchy, while the British empire reached its grandest
scale.

It was also a largely peaceful reign. Although there were
conflicts in the Empire, British forces were only involved
in one European conflict, the Crimean War (1854-56).

Victoria restored the reputation of the monarchy, which
was unpopular at the time of her accession. When George
IV died in 1830, the British newspaper The Times
commented that 'there never was an individual less

regretted by his fellow-creatures than this deceased
king'. By the end of the reign, with the advances in
Empire, the monarchy's prestige and the affection in

which it was held were once again high. Much of this was
due to Victoria and her husband, Albert.

In British society, moves were made to improve the life
of the ordinary man and woman. More people than ever
before were allowed to vote, while the 1842 Mines Act
prevented women and children from working

underground. An Education Act and a Public Health Act
were passed and there were laws limiting the maximum
length of time anyone should work in the day to 10
hours. These Acts and more were passed and carried out

by the ten Prime Ministers who served Queen Victoria
during her reign. Britain moved towards the 'constitutional
monarchy' (where the king or queen reigns according to
the advice of an elected Parliament) we know today.

One of Prince Albert's great achievements was the Great
Exhibition, held in 1851. This was a huge fair in which

people from all over the world displayed the latest
technologies. The exhibition made a great deal of money

(Victorians) 5