Date of Award
5-12-2023
Major
International Studies, History, and Economics
Faculty Advisor
Sramek, Joseph
Abstract
The Victorian era (ca. 1830 – 1900) in Britain saw massive economic and social transformations brought about by industrialization and the emergence, for the first time, of a modern class society. This research project focused on creating an innovative way for students of history to learn about the various political, economic, and social changes shaping and being shaped by the decisions of the British government in the latter half of the 19th century by using the Reacting to the Past curriculum framework. In particular, it focused on the historical first ministries of William Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli, their famous feud on the floor of the House of Commons and in the pages of every British newspaper, and their respective influence in shaping the modern world’s conception of liberal and conservative ideologies.
Comments
Thank you to the SIU-C Honors Program for granting me the opportunity to pursue this project. A special thank you to Francesca Burkett for forcing me to work on it until it was finished.