1. • The Industrial Revolution helped mitigate
social inequalities
– weakened titled nobility
– middle class with high standard of living
– rights of the lower classes
– role of women expanded
2. Nobility are Weakened
• Businessmen, manufacturers, bankers achieve
status/wealth of aristocrats
– Political parties
• Importance of landownership decreases
3. Rise of Middle Class with Rights
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•
•
•
Businessmen, engineers, teachers, scientists
Lower middle class
Liberal -> social reform
Reform Bill of 1832 - suffrage
www.reformer802.com
4. Lower Classes Gain Rights
www.nps.gov/edis/ techimpact.htm
• 70% manual workers
www.iww.org
• “Friendly societies
• 1824 trade unions legalized
– Violent strikes: ex. 1877 eastern railroad strike in US
• 1867 reform act – suffrage for factory workers and small farm owners
• Politicians legislate in favor of urban workers
5. Role of Women is Expanded
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•
•
•
•
“Moral centers of family”
Refuge for husbands against capitalist world
Teaching, nursing, clerical professions
Lower middle class jobs: ex. secretary
Participate in strikes
en.wikipedia.org
www.academickids.com
