Victorian views on class and poverty changed a lot over time. Here’s how it happened:

1. Early Victorian Era (1837-1850)

• People commonly believed there were two kinds of poor people: the "deserving" and the "undeserving."
• In the 1840s, about 1 in 4 children in London was living in poverty.

2. Mid to Late Victorian Era (1851-1901)

• During this time, more people started to notice social problems.
• In 1867, a new Reform Act gave more men the right to vote. This showed that the middle class was being recognized.
• Social reform groups began to form, leading to changes like the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834.

3. Key Statistics

• By 1891, around 30% of people were living in poverty.
• From 1850 to 1900, the number of poor people who died each year dropped by about 30%.

These changes were connected to the rise of factories, changing attitudes in society, and new laws being made.