Historical Facts from Regency England and the Emancipation Era

"Regency" refers to the period when the Prince Regent acted as king, due to George III's insanity. This period lasts from approximately 1795 and 1837. It is also referred to as "Georgian," since it was when the "Georges" ruled. George IV was crowned in 1821.

In England, Abolition referred to the abolishment of the slave trade, whereas Emancipation referred to the complete annihilation of slavery as an institution legalized by the British monarchy.

Quick Facts:

Abolition of the British slave trade occurred in 1807, however illegal slave trading continued for many decades more. In some countries, slave trading became even more common due to its newly lucrative nature.

In 1823, the fervor to emancipate all slaves was revived, and bills were brought to Parliament. Anti-slavery societies sprang up everywhere. Despite the popularity of the idea, Parliament only acquiesced on two points: Female slaves should not be flogged, and slaves should be given one day of the week off.

Emancipation occurred in 1833. Slave owners were compensated a certain sum of money for each slave they owned in order to set them free.

Distrust of the French continued in English society for many years after the Napoleonic wars. Despite this, there was a huge fascination with all things French, from the language to the fashion. In the 1820's, France was again under monarchial rule, and Napoleon died on Elba in 1821.

For more information on the historical culture and the abolition movement, BBC Online has a wonderfully interactive history that you can visit at this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/abolition/

Or, for a more pared down version of the history of the British Slave Trade, visit the Spartacus Online Encyclopedia: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/slavery.htm

Fashion in Late Regency

 This might be a traditional ball gown in 1823, that a normal debutante would wear at her coming out:

 Sleeves and ruffles began to get bigger in the 1820's, as waistlines dropped. This image shows a young Spanish woman who is at the height of the times:

Men's fashion was every bit as important as women's during this period of the "dandy." An attractive male physique was incredibly important. Alexander may have worn something like this young gentleman in the 1820's:

Feathers had been in fashion for sometime, but the Regency era overall was quite simple and feminine. In the 1820's, things became more elaborate, heavier, thicker, fluffier, with even more feathers. The image below is something like how I picture Rachel upon her entrance in Heatherstone: