Romantic+History

 **RAMYA**

Romantic Era: 1780-1832

While the Classical era had strict laws of balance and restraint, the Romantic era moved away from that by allowing artistic freedom, experimentation, and creativity.

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Themes such as human freedom and critique of the Enlightenment period were reoccuring themes. One of the key political themes during the Romantic era was the concept of nationalism, who's idea originated with French philosopher Jaques Roussau. At the beginning of the Romantic era, Britain was in the middle of America's Revolutionary War. The war itself was taking a toll on Britain and at-home disputes such as the anti-Catholic riots were also challenging. Britain's new Prime Minister, William Pitt, brought economic and administrative reforms while leaving the Anglican Church untouched; this brought in the first generations of Conservatives, then known as Tories, to England. Pitt began a "Reign of Terror," crushing radical dissentors and encouraging the evangelical movement.
 * Political History:**

The French Revolution began in 1789 and ended with the rise of Napoleon. Napoleon's goal of conquering Europe was cut short because of Russian winters and he was stopped.

In England in the 1780's, the first Industrial Revolution was occurring. Inventions such as carbonized coal, the spinning jenny and more were bringing about more efficient production. Because of the factories, industrial cities' population tripled in size. Though families grew, the housing was crowded and had horrible sanitation. Wages were low, forcing many small children to work long hours. The beginning of the 1800's brought many reforms, such as relaxations on tariffs. England abolished slavery in 1833 and passed child labor laws in the 1840's.
 * Social History**

In their private lives, they often asserted their individuality and differences in ways that were to the middle class a subject of intense interest, but also sometimes of horror.


 * Religious History**

The Romantics returned God to Nature -- the age revived the unseen world, the supernatural, the mysterious, the world of medieval man. Due to the sense of materialism that came with the Industrial Revolution, work became more important than God. Despite the decline in religion, the majority of Great Britain was Protestant at the time.

Questions: 1. What were Romantic people's opinions of the "real" world? Did they use facts or emotions to form opinions?[] 2. What was the status of religion in the beginning of the Romantic Era? [] 3. How did the Industrial Revolution come about in England? [] 4. What are some major themes of the Romantic Era? [] 5. What were the living conditions? What reforms attempted to correct this?[] = =