An Exploration Of Middle Class Factors For British Suburbanization During The Victorian Era

Britain is the first urbanized country as well as the first suburbanized countryin the world. After the Industrial Revolution, the urban development made it possiblefor a large number of middle classes to move to suburbs during the Victorian era.This thesis attempts to analyze the factors for British suburbanization from theperspective of the middle class.On the research of the connection between Victorian suburbanization andBritish middle class, this thesis focuses on what the middle class factors are and howmiddle class influenced suburbanization. The author of this thesis intends to provethat the British suburbanization process during the Victorian era was promoted bymiddle class values and ideologies prevailing at that time, including the class identity,family ideal and the pursuit of a better quality of life.The first chapter will explain how class identity including upward mobility,segregation from lower class and a sense of community influenced their decisions tomove to suburbs. The second chapter will illustrate family ideal at that time amongmiddle classes, especially separation of work and family, emphasis on privacy andrising status of women affected suburbanization. The third chapter will deal with therelationship between suburbanization and their pursuit of a better quality of lifeincluding pursuit of health, safety and leisure.In conclusion, middle class values and ideologies including the class identity,family ideal and the pursuit of a better quality of life are vital factors determining themiddle class to move to suburbs away from city cores, which promoted the Britishsuburbanization. The thesis can also give some beneficial references for the study ofsuburbanization and urban development in China. Besides, this thesis is also of greatsignificance to the knowledge of British urban history and class research.