Queen Victoria

Yes, I know Victoria is not American and the SAT is an American test, but the Victorian era had a huge impact on culture around the world. Victoria became queen in 1837 when she was just 18 years old and reigned until her death in 1901. During this time England was the superpower of the world and had so many colonies that the adage “the sun never sets on Britain” was true. At any time it would be daytime somewhere in the British Empire, from Canada to Australia to India (just to name a few). Additionally, the world changed in vast and varied ways with the industrial revolution and the invention of many things we take for granted today including bicycles, photography, steamships, sewing machines, steel, pasteurization, electric light and the postage stamp. Many customs seen today started in the Victorian era including brides wearing white, bridal showers, Christmas trees, Father Christmas (precursor to Santa Claus), mourners wearing black and even bouquets. Over the course of her 64 year reign, the changes to the world where unprecedented. For example when Victoria was young crossing the Atlantic took about eight weeks and by the time of her death that trip took only one week.

Any reference to “Victorian” or Victorianism” is talking about those times and references a multitude of connotations including strictness, definite class distinctions, colonialism, ornate decoration in art and architecture, and overall that there is “proper” way to do anything and everything.

Victoria is important for being the longest reigning monarch in English history (although Elizabeth II will pass her in September 2015) and during her reign there was expansion of the British Empire through colonialism and the marriages of her 9 children into the families of many other European royalties, including Russia, Germany, Greece, Sweden, Norway and Belgium.

Remember that any reference to Victoria is probably referring to the Queen, and not Beckham or a lingerie store.