Queen+Victoria

Alexandrina Victoria was born on May 24, 1819 at Kensington Palace, London; the first and only daughter of Prince Edward and Princess Victoria. Prince Edward was the Duke of Kent and Strathearn. He died in 1820, leaving her to be raised by her mother Princess Victoria. She inherited her title after her three uncles died, leaving no heirs to the throne, as her uncles didn't have any legitimate children to rule. Her reign lasted for 63 years and seven months. She lived as the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 20, 1837- January 22, 1901. She was also the Empress of India from May 1, 1876- January 22, 1901. Her reigns ended when she died.

Queen Victoria is most famous for her influence to support peace and reconciliation during the middle years of her reign. She urged the ministers to not get involved in the Prussia-Austria-Denmark war and helped to avert a second Franco-German war. Victoria grew in popularity with the increase of imperial sentiment starting in the 1870’s and beyond. She also passed several acts to help “govern” the nation they had built up so high. One of these acts to help push them forward was the Secret Ballot Act of 1872, which made it impossible to pressure, bribe, or intimidate voters.

Queen Victoria's biggest impact (or affect) on South Africa was her support of Disraeli's expansionist foreign policy. Benjamin Disraeli is the man behind this policy. He was very close friends with the queen, even after his retirement from Prime Minister. Disraeli's expansion foreign policy was basically Disraeli's purchase of £4 million of Suez Canal shares. This stopped France from total control of the trade route. He was soon accused of Boer nationalism and this is when things took a turn for the worse. The Zulus were never happy with everything, but soon, eight Zulu leaders were pitted against each other. All of this is what started the Anglo-Zulu war.