Social Classes of the Industrial Age
Social Structure in the Industrial Era
In the industrial era, society saw the consolidation of the petty bourgeoisie and the emergence of a working class. However, the peasants remained the largest group.
The Spreading of the Middle Classes
In the late 19th century, the economic and social development of most industrialized countries led to the appearance of a large middle class or petite bourgeoisie. Their economic and educational levels were higher than those of the lower classes, but lower than those of the gentry class and aristocracy. They grew along the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in cities.
The middle class emerged as a heterogeneous group:
- Artisans working in workshops
- Small businessmen
- Middle management positions in industry and the army
- Landowners
- Teachers
They saved to build wealth, investing in the education of their children for a better future and social mobility. They often held moderate political views.
The Working Class
The workers were those working in factories in exchange for a wage. Marxist theorists defined them as the proletariat.
Workers performed tasks that required low skills, earning low wages, especially women and children, which barely allowed them to survive. Their long workdays often exceeded 12 hours. Because of their low wages, workers lived day-to-day: everyday expenses consumed their entire salary, preventing them from saving. The lack of funds hindered the education of their children, as their work was necessary for the family’s sustenance, blocking any possibility of social improvement.
Farmers
In spite of industrialization, most of the European population remained peasant. There were major differences between regions:
- In northern and western Europe, most peasants were small owners who might belong to the middle classes and who incorporated machines and new cultivation techniques on their lands.
- In southern Europe, there were many farmers working on sparsely mechanized estates. Known as laborers, they were paid a low salary or wage and lived a miserable life.
- In central and eastern Europe, the peasants suffered the worst situation, and many remained serfs until the early 20th century.
Class Dynamics and Changes
Industrial society was divided into classes, groups distinguished by their economic position. The bourgeoisie became the dominant class when the aristocracy lost most of their privileges.
The Decline of the Aristocracy
The European aristocracy lost part of their social prominence when the feudal rights of peasants were removed, they began to pay taxes, and had to sell land to maintain their lifestyle. Most aristocrats lacked entrepreneurial spirit and failed to invest in the new businesses being developed. However, well into the 20th century, aristocrats continued occupying prestigious positions in politics, justice, and diplomacy. Their lifestyle was the social model that the booming middle class tried to imitate. The children of impoverished aristocrats were resigned to marry into the wealthy bourgeoisie to maintain their lifestyle and heritage; thus, many bourgeois gained peerage.
The Rise of the Bourgeoisie
After a series of revolutionary waves that occurred during the 19th century, the bourgeoisie became the powerful class of the new industrial society. The bourgeoisie encompassed very different groups: managers, rentiers, senior officials, and military personnel. The bourgeois lived in cities, in new neighborhoods and homes in the city center. Their values became predominant: the cult of work, diligence, saving, and sobriety as means to achieve prosperity, and the exaltation of the family and home. They defended individual initiative and profit as the only means to achieve economic and social welfare.