Victorian morality

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/victorian-morality

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the historical context?19th-century Britain, marked by industrialization and social change
2. What is the dominant social class influence?Middle class, shaping prevailing moral and ethical standards
3. What were the main rules of Victorian morality?Victorian morality focused on being religious, working hard, being polite, and improving oneself through learning and good manners.
4. Why did people in Victorian England change books like Shakespeare?They removed parts that were seen as rude or inappropriate to keep children safe and protect their innocence.

Bowdlerization: The expurgation or alteration of a text to remove material considered offensive or objectionable.
Evangelicalism: A Protestant movement emphasizing the authority of the Bible, personal conversion, and missionary activity.
Industrial Work Ethic: A set of values emphasizing hard work, discipline, punctuality, and productivity as moral virtues.
Labouchere Amendment: Legislation passed in 1885 that criminalized 'gross indecency' between men in the UK.