The rise of the middle class
The trade unions had a prominent impact on the class system, as the middle class held a higher position as a result of it.
The class system that was put in place before the Industrial Revolution was not needed because there was barely a system, and the categories were unclear.
The King was at the top of the pyramid along with the rest of the Aristocrats who lived great lives because they usually owned a lot of land, and had servants working for them who were usually very poor. Sometimes their servants lived with them, but had to pay rent daily.The people below the King were the aristocrats and the gentry, they were not as wealthy or had titles, but they owned land as well, and could easily live off the rent they received from their land instead of working. After them were the professionals who had their titles because of their occupation. They were usually; doctors, lawyers, shopkeepers or soldiers. These people were able to live pleasant lives through the money they received from worked. They were highly educated so they were payed a lot. Sometimes they had ties with people who were part of the gentry.The people at the bottom of the pyramid were the farmers or yeomen, they worked for the middle or upper class and they did not own land, or earn a lot of money from working, but it was possible for them to live off their salary.
The classes were divided the same way as the ‘estate’ system was divided.
Since the middle ages, there was an ‘estate’ system, which was a traditional arrangement. The aristocrats who owned land were part of the first estate. The well educated, who were usually church members worked as teachers, lawyers, doctors and yeomen. The estate system was very similar to the class system, except for where the professions were placed.
The class system was altered with the coming of the Industrial Revolution.
Previously, the owner of the mill and the least paid workers had no connection to the class system. Rich landowners were no longer respectable people because agriculture had lost its value. Factory workers earned more than a farmer that worked on a small farm. Mill owners were the wealthiest.
Business-men were in the middle because they were skilled and educated and they still earned money, but it was not as much.
Sir Lep Chiozza divided up the middle class into five groups. It was first divided into three groups, which were; those in riches, comfort and poverty. The group that was part of the lower middle class earned 160 pounds per year. With this salary they could have a wife and a servant. The next three groups lived more comfortably than the first group, but they didn't have a wife at home. Finally the upper middle class, consisted of people who owned 700 pounds. Only 8.2% of the total population were the middle clad, while the rich people made up only 2.9% of the national income.
Between 1850’s and 1870’s, the salaries increased. The number of people earning 10,000 tripled from 338 to 987, and the number of people earning 50,000 increased from twenty-six to twenty-seven. There were no longer so many millionaires, and the people who were just rich or from the middle class, became richer, this is evident by the way the twenty-seven rich people in 1860 dramatically increased to 101 in the first decade of the 2oth century. When many of the middle class families became wealthy they still weren't welcomed to join the elite, due to the pride the landowners had for themselves.
Hence, the trade union groups had a major impact on the reforms, as they were able to get rid of the estate system, and substitute it with a system that benefited the majority.
Websites on 'the rise of the middle class'
http://www.historyspark.com/fin/midclass.html
The class system that was put in place before the Industrial Revolution was not needed because there was barely a system, and the categories were unclear.
The King was at the top of the pyramid along with the rest of the Aristocrats who lived great lives because they usually owned a lot of land, and had servants working for them who were usually very poor. Sometimes their servants lived with them, but had to pay rent daily.The people below the King were the aristocrats and the gentry, they were not as wealthy or had titles, but they owned land as well, and could easily live off the rent they received from their land instead of working. After them were the professionals who had their titles because of their occupation. They were usually; doctors, lawyers, shopkeepers or soldiers. These people were able to live pleasant lives through the money they received from worked. They were highly educated so they were payed a lot. Sometimes they had ties with people who were part of the gentry.The people at the bottom of the pyramid were the farmers or yeomen, they worked for the middle or upper class and they did not own land, or earn a lot of money from working, but it was possible for them to live off their salary.
The classes were divided the same way as the ‘estate’ system was divided.
Since the middle ages, there was an ‘estate’ system, which was a traditional arrangement. The aristocrats who owned land were part of the first estate. The well educated, who were usually church members worked as teachers, lawyers, doctors and yeomen. The estate system was very similar to the class system, except for where the professions were placed.
The class system was altered with the coming of the Industrial Revolution.
Previously, the owner of the mill and the least paid workers had no connection to the class system. Rich landowners were no longer respectable people because agriculture had lost its value. Factory workers earned more than a farmer that worked on a small farm. Mill owners were the wealthiest.
Business-men were in the middle because they were skilled and educated and they still earned money, but it was not as much.
Sir Lep Chiozza divided up the middle class into five groups. It was first divided into three groups, which were; those in riches, comfort and poverty. The group that was part of the lower middle class earned 160 pounds per year. With this salary they could have a wife and a servant. The next three groups lived more comfortably than the first group, but they didn't have a wife at home. Finally the upper middle class, consisted of people who owned 700 pounds. Only 8.2% of the total population were the middle clad, while the rich people made up only 2.9% of the national income.
Between 1850’s and 1870’s, the salaries increased. The number of people earning 10,000 tripled from 338 to 987, and the number of people earning 50,000 increased from twenty-six to twenty-seven. There were no longer so many millionaires, and the people who were just rich or from the middle class, became richer, this is evident by the way the twenty-seven rich people in 1860 dramatically increased to 101 in the first decade of the 2oth century. When many of the middle class families became wealthy they still weren't welcomed to join the elite, due to the pride the landowners had for themselves.
Hence, the trade union groups had a major impact on the reforms, as they were able to get rid of the estate system, and substitute it with a system that benefited the majority.
Websites on 'the rise of the middle class'
http://www.historyspark.com/fin/midclass.html