ROMANTIC AGE - HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The main feature in this period is that passion and feelings are more important while in the age before was
considered only the rationality with the mind of enlightenment. Romantic age try to explain, through the
supernatural, what they can’t explain with the rationality.
The romantic age is also known as the Age of Revolution because in this short period three revolutions took
place:
1. The American Revolution, where the American colonies gained independence
2. The French Revolution
3. The Industrial Revolution, that changed Britain from a rural to an industrial society.
George III and William Pitt the Younger
George III increased his control over the country thanks to loyal supporters. One of these was William Pitt
the Younger, prime minister. During his time in office, Pitt obtained the position of prime minister by
increasing his power. For example, he supported the conservative ideas of the king and his defense of the
aristocracy getting a rigid governing policy that aimed of representing any form of revolt.
The French Revolution
The middle class and the clergy live wealthy and they had many privileges while the third state was
dissatisfied.
The French revolution broke out in 1789. In its first phase the revolution found supporters amongst
intellectuals and poets like Blake, Wordsworth and Coleridge. But when the revolution became bloody and
violent only a few continued to defend it. In addiction French troops invaded the Rhineland and the
Netherlands. So, England began to fear the increasing power of France that became real with the Napoleonic
wars.
From 1792 to 1815 a series of wars between France and the other European powers took place. Napoleon
Bonaparte was a general and the proclaimed himself Emperor of France. He led France in a bitter race to
conquer Europe. His fleet was defeated in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805 but Napoleon was finally defeated
at the Battle of Waterloo. At the congress of Vienna, the victors (England, Austria, Prussia, Russia) drew up
a new political map of Europe.
After the war and the Industrial Revolution
By the end of the war the English felt oppressed by heavy taxations, unemployment, and social problems.
The Industrial Revolution was transforming the agrarian and handcraft economy into one based on
machinery. Farm houses became industries but, with the introduction of new machines, workers had no work
and they became the new poor men. For this reason, the frustration of the workers exploded with the Luddite
Riots (the Luddites took their name from a workman called Ned Ludd) who destroyed machines all over
England because they used to see them as a threat to their jobs.
In 1819 there was Peterloo Massacre where 11 people were killed in St. Peter’s Fields by the local militia
who charged a peaceful gathering of people who had met to discuss the rise in bread prices. In the
countryside there was the poverty and suffering. In addition, the harvests were poor and they resulted in high
prices, so many people moved in town and cities to look for work. Two new social classes were growing up:
entrepreneurs and workers.
Poverty and exploitation
To the town there was the exploitation of the workers: they had to work in extreme conditions for long hours
and with low wages. Children and women also worked in factories. Mostly women were subject to
discrimination but, in contrast, middle and upper-class women didn’t work and could receive a basic
education. While the middle classes became more important, the other part of the population remained poor.
A time of reform
In 1820 George IV was king of England and then William IV followed him. This became a time of important
reforms. In 1832 there was the First Reform Bill which extended the vote to the new middle classes; the
Factory Act that made it illegal to employ children under the age of 9 to work in factories and restricted the
