Q: Helen Rappaport – Queen Victoria – Intro

A:

• Passionate about Victorian period as a child

• Admired the Queen

• Became a professional writer

• Also write about the Romanovs

Q: Why was Queen Victoria such a compelling historical figure?

A: 

• Became Queen after 5 kings

• Pretty, young, 19, untainted

• Refreshing change

• A clean slate

Q: What was the monarchy like under Victoria?

A: 

• Early years – overreach, mistakes

• Prime Minster Melbourne taught her how to be a queen

• Husband Albert was a dominant influence

• After Albert’s death: transcendent, wonderful, matriarchal figure

Q: Was Queen Victoria trained for her political role as Queen?

A:

• She learned on the job

• Her uncle Leopold, King of Belgium, guided her

• Albert then edged everyone else out

Q:  Did Queen Victoria share power with Prime Ministers?

A: 

• Melbourne met with her daily for 3-4 years

• Revolutions across Europe in 1840s were of grave concern

• Her mournful retreat threatened the monarchy

• Disraeli coaxed her out of isolation & saved her

Q: What were Queen Victoria's main accomplishments?

A: 

• Longevity, consistency, sense of security

• Britain a center, world power

• Enormous, expansive empire

Q: Was Victoria a bigot or racist?

A: 

• Aristocracy was anti- Semitic, anti-Catholic

• Victoria was not typical of that bigotry

• She did not judge people by their color or creed

• Victoria knighted Moses Montefiore

• Victoria promoted Nethaniel Rothschild

Q: Was Victoria religious?

A: 

• Not a rampant Christian

• Believer, G-d fearing

• Liked simplicity in religion

• Faith was a Presbyterian Scottish one

Q: Did Victoria write?

A: 

• Journal is 100 volumes

• One of most important primary 19th century sources

• Astonishing work of a mother, woman & queen

• However, heavily redacted after her death