In the Victorian Era Canada was controlled by rich groups of businessmen and landowners. The governors chose these groups to the governing cabinets of each settlement. The opposition were citizens that were unhappy. Lord Durham, sent by the british government, investigated uprising and suggested exposed government but it was denied. In 1849 agents passes a bill for compensation for those who endured the rebellions of 1837. The executive council denied the act and the governor had to choose whether to support the old establishment or elected members. The responsible government won as the Governor General signed the Losses Bill and so the government was controlled by the majority in an elected crowd. This was an enormous step to the democracy we have today. https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/responsible-government
Immigration
Immigration in the Victorian Era was mostly from Britain until 1967 when an immigrant regulation changed. This change allowed people to immigrate regardless of their nationality. This meant that more immigrants from asian and african countries arrived. They were assessed in condition of their strength to increase Canada’s productivity. The criteria for the immigrants was their work skills, business proficiency, educational credentials and generous contribution. They contributed incredibly to the Canadian economy, population growth, urban life and enriched our culture. http://canlit.ca/reviews/home_amp_away
Social Values
Etiquette in the Victorian Era was very strict. There were things you should and should not do to be respectful. For women their hair always had to be tied up either in a bun or chicon unless they were young. They had to dress modestly in feminine colours with beads, laces and ribbons. If they did not dress this way it would be disgraceful. In the Victorian Era a part of a woman's beauty was good posture and grace.
In this era you would not go to breakfast in your pajamas even if it was just with your family. Your emotions were to be hid, especially if annoyed. When meeting someone or when someone walked in the room you were to rise to your feet. If you were a man you would bow, and if you were a lady you would do a little curtsy. You were not ever to turn your back on someone. If you needed to turn your back to answer the door or something like that you had to ask to be excused. Past the age of childhood you would never call a person by their first name unless they were cousins. Young schoolboys called each other by their last names and ladies would call each other by miss until they became close friends. Men and women would not use first names until engaged.
During the months of May, June and July it was social season which the main purpose was for marriage. A social recreation of the Upper-class ladies was to call. This is a visit that lasts about 15-30 minutes. A lady should never call on a man. Private balls and parties were arranged so young people could meet. In the middle and upper class a man would propose by letter or in person and once the lady accepts they advance the father/guardian to see how long until the marriage would take place. If a large bulk of fortune was required then permission from the father would be necessary. http://www.avictorian.com/social_rituals.html http://www.elegantwoman.org/victorian-etiquette.html
Fashion
Women’s fashion in the Victorian Era changed a lot. It began with wide shoulders and full skirt dresses. Soon the skirt expanded and the jacket bodice lengthened over the hips. In the next few years the dresses had holes in the sides, were more filled in the back and the hemline was at the natural waist. At this time white petticoats were in style. In a few years skirt pockets were introduced although they didn’t last long. Later the skirt hugged the legs, the dresses had trains and bows were in. In the more recent ages the skirts became more plain, they became wider at the hem and puffed sleeves were popularized. The skirts grew slowly with lace becoming soft flowing dresses. The evening dresses had more embroidery and beads which made them very flashy.
The men’s fashion did not change as much in the Victorian Era. Gentlemen wore white whereas the working class wore colours. The shirts had high collars and by the 1900’s coats were acceptable as formal daytime wear. Dress coats were worn for evening occasions. Later top hats were worn during daytime and evening and grey top hats were worn to racing parties. If going to the opera, opera hats were worn. So far hats were only worn formally so in a few years it became okay to wear them informally. Half boots or knee-high boots were worn for riding and rubber and canvas shoes to play tennis. http://trulyvictorian.com/history/1869.html http://www.victorianweb.org/victorian/art/costume/index.html
Technology
In the Victorian Era many new inventions were made and many already existing technology were getting better. New inventions to make communications easier were invented such as the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell and wireless telegraph by Marconi. Some contributions to sound and music was the phonograph and microphone invented by Thomas Edison. The Victorian Era held many breakthroughs for transportation. There were steamships, railways and even automotives. Although the automotives were very slow and there were many regulations around them. Some other things that first came about in this era was the sewing machine made by Elias Howe, sewage system by Joseph Bazalgette, the machine or gatling gun by Richard Gatling, incandescent lamp by Thomas Edison, the x-ray and oil refining was first used during this time. http://schoolworkhelper.net/victorian-era-technology-and-scientific-discoveries/ http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.ca/2012/02/victorian-technological-revolution.html
So what would there be in a time capsule?
Many things could be found in a time capsule from the Victorian Era.There could be a letter that is written about their government and what their views are on how the government is run. There could be a national flag of where they originally came from if they were an immigrant. An item that would demonstrate what their social customs were like could be beads, or even money. If a lady had put together a time capsule for us to see there may be an embroidered evening dress. Something a man might have put in a time capsule would be a hat that they wore. Through their technology breakthroughs something they might have put in a time capsule would be a record that was played on a phonograph with popular music.
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