Late 19th Century DBQ

Using the pictures as a starting point, describe the extent of these changes and their effects on working and middle class Europeans in the second half of the nineteenth century. 

The working and middle classes of Europe during the 19th century experienced drastic changes. The 19th century was a time during which new technologies were being made and social classes were being redefined. New technologies is industry brought about new ideas in the treatment of people. The working and middle classes began the nineteenth century with no rights and barely any impact; but due to the ideas of socialism, such as better pay and more involvement in the government,  they were able to increase their social power and make a stand.

In the beginning of the 19th century most people were working in factories due to the industrial revolution. All members of the family, fathers; mothers, and children, worked to earn wages in factories. They had to work long hours and in return, they received barely any pay (doc. 1). The clothing worn in the first picture is a reflection of the little wages people received for their work. All members of the family look disgruntled, tired, hungry, and overworked (doc. 1). There were no laws that prevented factory owners from treating their workers unjustly; therefore, most of the middle and working class was poor (doc. 1). However, the painter of the first picture was probably a poor factory worker who wanted to depict his own social status as something that was not to be desired. The painter was either someone from the middle working class or someone who was sympathetic to that class. 

Towards the second half of the 19th century, the middle and working class started to become more wealthy and prominent. The main reason behind these changes was socialistic ideas. Ideas from those such as Marx, Engels, Owen, and many others brought about these changes. Socialistic thinkers believed that the working and middle class should have more freedoms and rights; this is depicted in the second picture (doc. 2). The second picture shows a scene in which the middle class citizens are roaming the city in nice clothing (doc. 2). The clothing suggests that the middle/working class makes more money because they can afford this new higher standard of living. In the 1840s, acts were passed, such as the Mines Act of 1842 and the Ten Hours Act of 1847, in England which showed the progress of the middle and working class. These changes could be the reason for the change depicted in the second picture. The painter of the second picture could have bias because they could have been a higher class citizen making it seem as if the middle class was well of (doc. 2).

The middle and working class really began to change during the mid-nineteenth century. It was a time when socialists were began to express their ideas that people should be equal; this idea of socialism was the fundamental changing point. Robert Owen, a cotton lord, specifically had an impact. He tried to better the lives of his employees. He set an example for other landowners and factory owners. Owen increased the pay of his workers and lowered their hours. Small acts like this highly increased the way of life for the middle and working class. The middle class became larger because of these changes and it also became more wealthy.

The nineteenth century changed the way people look at the middle and working class. This class of people was no longer considered below par. The middle class had become larger and in some senses more prominent or important than the high class. Around this time cities also became more developed because the middle class and working class was growing near the factories. Also these families could afford more because of these new changes due to socialism. Both pictures provide accurate descriptions of the changes that occurred during this time. However, bias of the painters must still be taken into consideration.