why was the 19th century considered the golden age of children's literature?

Question

What is the title and author of the landmark work of fantastic fiction and famous domestic novel written during this period?

Answer 1

Facts about Pre-1800 -
If one had 13 children one was lucky if one survived.
Children treated like mini- grownups. Boys dressed like girls till they were about 6yrs. All children dressed in small versions of adult clothes. No real toys.
In 1818 Mrs Amelia Bloomer made an impact by saying clothes should be practical. She introduced the 1st knickers /pants (before this people did not wear under-garments - very smelly)
From this came the idea of clothes children could play in, instead of the tight corsets children wore. From this events catapulted into concepts of having toys, books lots of things specifically for children.
In the early 1800s poor children worked for as much as 16hrs a day in terrible conditions. Middle class and rich children were sent from home at about 8 yrs. Then people such as Owen, Lord Salisbury and others campaigned to reduce hours and to let children have leisure time. With this came a need for books for children to read. For example the original (not modern Disney) story 'The Water Babies' was a story written for children but it was very moralistic about children being good etc.