Rich and Poor & Those Inbetween

Rich and Poor & Those Inbetween Jessica Barbery Jessica Chilingerian Austin Fauni Joey Dhillon Kaitlin Lopez

Social Structure • The standard of living for the average person increased. • Wages for British workers rose dramatically between 1850 and 1906 • These increases also occurred in continental countries as the industrial movement started to grow. • Although there were improvements, it didn’t completely eliminate poverty and hardship, wealth and income did not significantly change. • The community was diverse because the gap between the rich and the poor was very large. - created more social classes, resulting in less unity • The patterns of inequality has remained the same

The Middle Class • The 20th century urban middle class diversified • At the top was the wealthy business, banking, industrial families - Lived aristocratic, secular lives - Influenced politics greatly - Wealth could be shown off by the amount of servants they owned or things such as personal carriages and coaches • The “Middle” Class was the larger subgroup - This class included the successful industrialists, merchants, and professionals in law and medicine - They were satisfied with their solid amount of wealth

Middle Class cont. • The Lower Middle Class - This subgroup was made up of the independent shopkeepers, small traders, and manufacturers • The expansion of industry and technology also brought in people like engineers, architects, chemists, accountants, nurses, and more into the middle class

Middle Class Culture • Food was very essential for middle class. They usually held feasts once every week. • 25% of the income was spent on food and drinks • Early 1900’s middle class started to rent apartments instead of owning homes, the servants would live with them • The keys in culture were books, music and travel • Middle class were united by the expected behavior and mortality • Knowing right from, self-discipline, and personal achievement

The Working Classes • 4/5 people were in the working class - most were small land owning peasants • There was a range of working class skills, earnings, and experiences. • Economic development, and increased specialization formed this distinction • the gap between the manual workers and the highly skilled workers began to decrease, it was seen in their lifestyles and cultures • 15% of the working class composed of highly skilled workers became a labor aristocracy • The highly skilled workers earned twice as much income as the unskilled workers.

The Labor Aristocracy A School For Servants

Construction bosses and foremen were the most aristocratic • Skilled laborers were always under constant pressure - skilled workers were easily replaced by semi-skilled workers that agreed with lower wages • Upper working class began to develop better working conditions and behaviors - committed to family and economic improvement - lead to the upper class putting money towards children education

Leisure • Drinking was a favorite leisure-time activity of working people • As the 19th century progressed, drinking became more public and social as cafes and pubs became increasingly friendly and welcoming • Also, pubs were used for political activities within the working-class. Sports and music halls were also utilized for leisure • Bets were placed on popular sports such as racing and soccer

Religion • provided the working people with meaning and purpose • The 19th century symbolized religious revival • However, there was a decline in church attendance in 19th century suggesting a decline in faith and religion • Working class families still had their children baptized so they could call themselves "Christian" • Religion continued to diminish in the daily life. • Catholic and Protestant churches were seen as conservative institutions defending social order and customs • People became anti-church, but not anti-religion

Rich and Poor & Those Inbetween