The Romantic Age 1760-1837
History Timeline
1760-1820 George III ruled Britain: during his long and most unhappy reign, Britain lost the American
colonies, joined a coalition against the French Revolution and sent armies to fight those of Napoleon.
1820-1830 George IV was an incompetent ruler. As he admitted himself, he ‘was rather fond of women and
wine’. Nevertheless he legalized the Trade Unions (workers were greatly exploited. They began to organize
themselves in assemblies and in 1799 the Government promulgated the Combination Acts which made
Unions illegal by law. Trade Unions were legalized only in 1825) and recognized the literary genius of Jane
Austen.
1830-1837 William IV (son of George III and younger brother and successor to George IV) made several
reforms:
The Poor Law was updated (the poverty relief system was updated in1834: it was now based on the
workhouses. In England and Wales a workhouse was a place where those unable to support themselves
were offered accommodation and employment. The New Poor Law Act of 1834 discouraged the provision of
relief to anyone who refused to enter a workhouse).
Child Labour was restricted: the Factory Act of 1833 forbade the employment of children under the age of 9.
It also limited the number of hours older children could work: between ages 9 and 13 the limit was nine hours
per day; between ages 13 and 18 the limit was 12 hours.
Slavery was abolished in nearly all the British Empire (1833 – Slavery Abolition Act) and
The Reform Act (1832) improved the British electoral system (vote extended to middle-class men)
When he died, his niece Victoria succeeded him.
Main characteristics
Romanticism was a
period of great
industrial expansion.
The most important
invention which
transformed England
from an agricultural into
an industrial country was
steam power.
Social/political context
William IV made several
reforms.
During the Romantic
period women too,
began to make a more
valuable contribution to
the social life of England.
Literature
Poetry was the main
literary genre of the
Romantic period. It was
the most suitable to
express internal feelings,
sensations, emotions.
Art
Turner
Blake