Chapter 24-2 Late 19 th Century Social Structure

Second ½ of 19 th Century Increase in the standard of living Increase in the standard of living Still big gap between working class and wealthy Still big gap between working class and wealthy “Golden Age of the Middle Class” “Golden Age of the Middle Class” In England Wages and consumption increased by 50% In England Wages and consumption increased by 50%

Growing demand for experts with specialized knowledge New Professionals: Engineers, architects, chemists, accountants, surveyors New Professionals: Engineers, architects, chemists, accountants, surveyors Managers of large public and private institutions Managers of large public and private institutions Expansion and diversification of the lower middle class: Expansion and diversification of the lower middle class: Increase of white-collar employees: Salesmen, bookkeepers, store managers, clerks Increase of white-collar employees: Salesmen, bookkeepers, store managers, clerks Increase in independent property-owning shopkeepers Increase in independent property-owning shopkeepers

Society more diversified but less unified The Middle Class Western Europe: 15-12% of population Eastern Europe less Only 2% in Russia Only 2% in Russia Nobles dominated business Nobles dominated business

Upper Middle Class Bankers Bankers Industrial leaders Industrial leaders Top government officials Top government officials Large scale commerce Large scale commerce Employed several servants Employed several servants

Upper Middle Class Smaller businessmen Smaller businessmen Professionals Professionals Merchants Merchants Doctors Doctors Lawyers Lawyers Civil servants Civil servants Employed at least one sercant: cook or maid Employed at least one sercant: cook or maid

Lower Middle Class: Petite Bourgeoisie Independent shopkeepers Independent shopkeepers Small merchants Small merchants Store managers Store managers Minor civil servants Minor civil servants Teachers Teachers Clerks Clerks Some master craftsmen (like goldsmiths) Some master craftsmen (like goldsmiths)

Lower Middle Class continued Grew from about 7% of population to 20% in 1900 Grew from about 7% of population to 20% in 1900 Women: department store clerks, stenographers, secretaries, waitresses, nurses Women: department store clerks, stenographers, secretaries, waitresses, nurses Women held more than ½ of post office and government clerk jobs in 1911 Women held more than ½ of post office and government clerk jobs in 1911

Characteristics of the Middle Class: Believed in classical Liberalism Believed in classical Liberalism Sought protection of property in constitutional assemblies (British Parliament, French Chamber of Deputies) Sought protection of property in constitutional assemblies (British Parliament, French Chamber of Deputies) Gained political influence with increased property ownership (linked to voting rights) Gained political influence with increased property ownership (linked to voting rights)

Characteristics of Middle Class continued Emphasized individual liberty and respectability based on economic success Emphasized individual liberty and respectability based on economic success Clearest goal: Expanding the family’s fortune was the way to respectability Clearest goal: Expanding the family’s fortune was the way to respectability The family was the foundation of the social order The family was the foundation of the social order

Characteristics of the Middle Class continued Education and religion extremely important Education and religion extremely important Evangelical Protestantism especially in Eng;and, Netherlands, some German States Evangelical Protestantism especially in Eng;and, Netherlands, some German States Catholicism in France Catholicism in France Strong feelings of nationalism Strong feelings of nationalism

Working Class continued Highly Skilled: (15% of pop) Labor Aristocracy Highly Skilled: (15% of pop) Labor Aristocracy Construction bosses, foremen, highly skilled craftsmen Construction bosses, foremen, highly skilled craftsmen Semi-skilled: Semi-skilled: Carpenters, bricklayers, successful factory workers Carpenters, bricklayers, successful factory workers Unskilled and domestic servants Unskilled and domestic servants (most women) (most women)

The Working Class: 80 % of population 80 % of population Many were peasants and hired hands (especially in Eastern Europe) Many were peasants and hired hands (especially in Eastern Europe) Less unified and homogenous than Middle Class Less unified and homogenous than Middle Class Highly Skilled Highly Skilled Semi-skilled Semi-skilled Unskilled Unskilled

Working Class continued By 1900 over ½ of all working women in England were domestic servants By 1900 over ½ of all working women in England were domestic servants 1874 Children 14% of all textile factory workers 1874 Children 14% of all textile factory workers

The Family By 1850 Romantic love became the most important reason for marriage By 1850 Romantic love became the most important reason for marriage Rising standard of living, better economy = younger marriages Rising standard of living, better economy = younger marriages BUT economic status was still important BUT economic status was still important Also...remember respectability… Also...remember respectability…

The Family continued Middle Class females monitored closely by parents Middle Class females monitored closely by parents Chastity was paramount Chastity was paramount Middle Class boys …not so much Middle Class boys …not so much

The Family continued Rate of illegitimacy decreased after 1850 Rate of illegitimacy decreased after 1850 Premarital sex still common but couples “in trouble” tended to marry Premarital sex still common but couples “in trouble” tended to marry Middle Class emphasized fidelity in marriage Middle Class emphasized fidelity in marriage HOWEVER most of the customers of prostitutes were middle and upper class men HOWEVER most of the customers of prostitutes were middle and upper class men

The Family continued After 1850 increasingly distince gender roles After 1850 increasingly distince gender roles Husbands were the primary wage-earners Husbands were the primary wage-earners Wife dominated the home Wife dominated the home Child-rearing became more child-centered Child-rearing became more child-centered Middle Class women began to resist their second-class status Middle Class women began to resist their second-class status Demand for education, employment, laws Demand for education, employment, laws

Middle Class Child-Rearing Lower mortality rates for children = parents more emotionally involved Lower mortality rates for children = parents more emotionally involved Mothers increasingly breastfed their own infants Mothers increasingly breastfed their own infants Lower rate of illegitimacy Lower rate of illegitimacy Fewer children abandoned to foundling hospitals Fewer children abandoned to foundling hospitals Decrease in number of children in families Decrease in number of children in families

Middle Class Child-Rearing continued Increase in the number of books published on child-rearing Increase in the number of books published on child-rearing Middle Class parents intent on improving the economic and social condition of children Middle Class parents intent on improving the economic and social condition of children

Working Class Child-Rearing Working class children did not remain economically dependent on their families Working class children did not remain economically dependent on their families Boys and girls went to work after adolescence Boys and girls went to work after adolescence Broke from families when emotional ties became oppressive (all unlike middle class) Broke from families when emotional ties became oppressive (all unlike middle class) In 20 th century middle-class youth will follow above pattern In 20 th century middle-class youth will follow above pattern

Life in the fin de siecle Belle Epoque (The Good Old Days) Increased standard of living in all industrial countries Increased standard of living in all industrial countries But better living conditions in Northern Europe (Britain, France, Germany) than Southern or Eastern Europe But better living conditions in Northern Europe (Britain, France, Germany) than Southern or Eastern Europe

Life at the end of the Century continued Gradually people enjoyed higher wages and lower prices for food Gradually people enjoyed higher wages and lower prices for food Britain wages almost doubled Britain wages almost doubled More money spent on clothing More money spent on clothing Meat consumption increased dramatically Meat consumption increased dramatically Increased money and increased leisure time Increased money and increased leisure time

Increased Consumption Sports: increased # of spectators and participants Sports: increased # of spectators and participants Increase in sports clubs Increase in sports clubs Soccer (football), rugby, bicycle and auto races, track and field Soccer (football), rugby, bicycle and auto races, track and field 1890’s: huge bicycle craze 1890’s: huge bicycle craze

Women and Sports Increasing numbers of women active in sports clubs and bicycling Increasing numbers of women active in sports clubs and bicycling Gradually women abandoned their restrictive slothing for dresses that allowed for more movement Gradually women abandoned their restrictive slothing for dresses that allowed for more movement

Sports continued The emergence of the sports culture mirrored the growth of aggressive nationalism in the late 19 th century The emergence of the sports culture mirrored the growth of aggressive nationalism in the late 19 th century Some Social Darwinists believed that sports conpetition confirmed the superiority of certain racial groups Some Social Darwinists believed that sports conpetition confirmed the superiority of certain racial groups

Other Leisure Activities Increased patronage of cafes and taverns in cities and towns Increased patronage of cafes and taverns in cities and towns Department Stores mainly frequented by the middle class Department Stores mainly frequented by the middle class Paris: dance halls, concerts, plays Paris: dance halls, concerts, plays

New Inventions Telephone Telephone Automobile Automobile Gramophone Gramophone Radio Radio Motion Pictures Motion Pictures

Education The State’s role in education increased = more secularization of society The State’s role in education increased = more secularization of society Decreased the influence of organized religion Decreased the influence of organized religion Increased the emphasis of loyality and service to the state Increased the emphasis of loyality and service to the state

Education continued England: all children 5-12 required to attend primary school: Free England: all children 5-12 required to attend primary school: Free France: The Ferry Laws required children 3-13 to attend primary schools: Free France: The Ferry Laws required children 3-13 to attend primary schools: Free

Increased Literacy Men had higher rates than women Men had higher rates than women Urbanites more literate than rural folks Urbanites more literate than rural folks Northern and Western Europe more literate than Southern and Eastern Northern and Western Europe more literate than Southern and Eastern 1900: Germany 99%...Russia 25% 1900: Germany 99%...Russia 25% Girls less access to higher ed than boys Girls less access to higher ed than boys Families had to pay Families had to pay BUT could improve marriage prospects BUT could improve marriage prospects