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Difficulty: HardThe Victorian Age

Lord Shaftesbury was a prominent social reformer during the Victorian Age. Which of the following describes a specific legislative achievement he championed to improve the welfare of vulnerable workers during the Industrial Revolution?

  1. The passage of the Mines Act, which prohibited all women and children under the age of 10 from working underground.Answer
  2. B
    The introduction of the Elizabethan Poor Law, which created a national system for parish-based relief for the elderly and infirm.
  3. C
    The enactment of the Habeas Corpus Act, which ensured that no person could be held in prison unlawfully without a court trial.
  4. D
    The establishment of the Church of England through the Act of Supremacy, making the monarch the supreme head of the church.

Answer

The correct answer is the passage of the Mines Act, which prohibited all women and children under the age of 10 from working underground.
Lord Shaftesbury (Anthony Ashley-Cooper) was a dedicated social reformer of the Victorian era who campaigned tirelessly for the welfare of the poor and specifically for children. His advocacy led to the 1842 Mines Act, which took women and children under the age of 10 out of the dangerous environments of underground mines.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical figure and era.
Lord Shaftesbury lived and worked during the Victorian Age (1837–1901).
Correctly identifying the era filters out reforms belonging to the Tudor or Stuart periods.
2
Evaluate the specific area of reform associated with the figure.
Lord Shaftesbury focused on social justice and the protection of children in mines and factories.
This distinguishes his work from constitutional, religious, or engineering achievements of other Victorian figures like Brunel or Nightingale.
3
Select the specific legislation attributed to his campaigns.
The 1842 Mines Act is a landmark piece of legislation credited to his advocacy.
The Mines Act directly addressed the safety and welfare of children and women in the industrial sector.

Key Concept

Victorian Social Reforms

Practice More

Review other Victorian figures such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Florence Nightingale to distinguish between engineering, medical, and social achievements of the 19th century.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

The Victorian Age

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