What was it like to be poor in the Victorian era?

What was it like to be poor in the Victorian era?

Poor people – even children – had to work hard in factories, mines or workhouses. They didn’t get paid very much money. By the end of the Victorian era, all children could go to school for free. Victorian schools were very strict – your teacher might even beat you if you didn’t obey the rules.

Why was living in the Victorian era difficult for the poor?

Low wages and the scramble for jobs meant that people needed to live near to where work was available. Time taken walking to and from work would extend an already long day beyond endurance. Consequently available housing became scarce and therefore expensive, resulting in extremely overcrowded conditions.

What did poor Victorian girls do?

Because they were considered cheap labor Victorian children were in high demand for many types of jobs including mining, factory work, street sweepers, clothing and hat makers, chimney sweeps, farming, textile mills, servants, and sadly, prostitution.

Why were people poor in the Victorian era?

Poverty was caused by many factors in the 1800s: Large families – many children had to be catered for. Death of main ‘bread-winner’ – no one to make money. Disability/injury at work – loss of earnings through inability to work.

Did poor Victorians go to school?

Where did poor Victorians go to school? Poor children sometimes had the opportunity of attending a church school, but these schools had very poor facilities with class sizes of up to 100 children. However, from 1880 the law changed and all children between the ages of 5 to 10 had to go to school.

What did a poor Victorian child wear?

Poorer children often wore patched and mended clothes that had been bought second-hand or passed down through the family. Boots and shoes were the most expensive items and some children were forced to go barefoot, even in winter.

Did poor Victorian children have toys?

Poor families made their own, such as cloth-peg dolls and paper windmills. Children would save their pocket money to buy marbles, a spinning top, skipping ropes, kites or cheap wooden toys. Girls played with dolls and tea sets whilst boys played with toy soldiers and marbles.

What did poor Victorians eat?

For many poor people across Britain, white bread made from bolted wheat flour was the staple component of the diet. When they could afford it, people would supplement this with vegetables, fruit and animal-derived foods such as meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs – a Mediterranean-style diet.

What was it like for a child in Victorian times?

Victorian children lived very different lives to children today. Poor children often had to work to earn money for their family. Disease and early death were common for both rich and poor people. Victorian children did not have as many toys and clothes as children do today and many of them were homemade.

What was life like for poor people in Victorian Britain?

Poor Victorians had a rough and hard life, often ending up in the workhouse or early death. Below is a table showing you some of the differences between rich and poor people: had few luxuries. lived in damp, filthy conditions. Many children died of disease. usually well fed, clean and well clothed. What does being poor mean?

What was the problem with the Victorian era?

The problem with the Victorian era is that there were very few families that had relatively nice homes, enough to eat on, and a decently successful career. You either had the money or you didn’t, which in reality probably drove the middle class to extinction for a time throughout the Victorian era.

What did children do in the Victorian era?

They didn’t get paid very much money. By the end of the Victorian era, all children could go to school for free. Victorian schools were very strict – your teacher might even beat you if you didn’t obey the rules. The way we celebrate Christmas was begun in Victorian times – they sent the first Christmas cards and made Christmas crackers.

Why did the Victorians become lower class citizens?

This quickly made them into the lower class citizens as there were very few jobs that they were capable of finding at this time. One of the major problems was the immigration of the country. The country was growing so rapidly that the number of jobs just could not justify it.