In 1837 when Victoria was crowned Queen of England, American independence from England was only 54 years old. Most people in America had a family member or some connection to the War and England in some way.
In that same time, England had gone through 3 King Georges and the (English) “Regency” period, Napoleon had risen and fallen, and the Bourbon lineage was back on the French throne.
Trade was abundant between a thriving United States that could provide raw goods to those war torn countries of Europe who continued to fight amongst themselves (the French and English notably). Americans were reaping the benefits of inexpensive finished goods from Europe and European worldwide colonies, and now that the Asias had opened up to trade, American women had a lot of choices whom to follow and how.
Most chose England.
(Portraits: 3 key fashion influencers 1783 (official end of Revolutionary War) to 1837 (start of Victorian era): left to right – Marie Antionette married to Louis XVI a Bourbon, Josephine Napoleon’s 2nd wife, and Victoria in about the 1860’s the prime of her career).