Working Class vs Middle Class Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does the term 'Working Class' refer to?

People who own factories

People who do not work at all

People who are self-employed

People employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work (correct)

Which of the following are reasons for forming labor unions?

High salaries

Long hours (correct)

Low pay (correct)

Unsafe conditions (correct)

What types of pollution are associated with the working class?

Coal dust in lungs (correct)

Water pollution from sewage

Littering

Air pollution from factories (correct)

Which of the following jobs were typically held by the working class?

Factory workers Signup and view all the answers

What were typical living conditions for the working class?

Living in tenements near factories Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason women in the working class experienced difficulties?

Women were paid half as much as men. Signup and view all the answers

What is socialism?

The idea that the poor should overthrow the rich and that the community should own resources. Signup and view all the answers

What did Karl Marx advocate for in the context of communism?

Workers should rise up and overthrow the owners. Signup and view all the answers

Middle-class owners cared deeply about their workers.

False Signup and view all the answers

What impact did urban renewal projects have on cities?

They helped in rebuilding poor areas and improved safety and health. Signup and view all the answers

What were key social changes due to the Industrial Revolution?

Creation of labor unions Signup and view all the answers

What are some economic effects of the Industrial Revolution?

More goods at lower prices Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Working Class

Defines the social group employed for wages, primarily in manual or industrial roles such as factories, mines, and textile mills.
Experiences significant pollution exposure, including coal dust, lint, machine noise, and general air pollution.

Labor Union Reasons

Driven by long working hours, low pay, and unsafe working conditions.

Working Conditions for Working Class

Jobs primarily include mines, factories, and textile mills.
Conditions characterized by long hours, low wages, and lack of safety measures such as insurance, safety equipment, and proper lighting.

Working Class: Women's and Children's Roles

Children started working as young as age 5; received minimal pay while often missing school.
Women worked full days and then managed household tasks, earning about half of men's wages.

Living Conditions of the Working Class

Resided in tenements close to factories and mines with inadequate infrastructure.
Lacked essential services like police and fire protection, safe buildings, and clean drinking water, resulting in overcrowded and unsafe environments.

Middle Class Working Conditions

Composed of professionals (doctors, lawyers, teachers), factory owners, and entrepreneurs.
Manufacturers often prioritized profits over employee welfare, embodying capitalist motives.

Middle Class Housing and Family Life

Families lived on city outskirts, away from pollution; transportation evolved to include carriages and electric trolleys.
Women maintained the household while children attended school, promoting family stability.

Socialism advocates for the collective ownership of resources by the poor, while communism, influenced by Karl Marx, calls for workers to rebel against owners, with government control over wealth.

Labor Unions and Collective Bargaining

Formed by workers facing poor conditions, these unions aimed for collective bargaining for better pay, shorter hours, and elimination of child labor.
Utilized strikes and work slowdowns as methods of protest.

Urban Renewal and Mutual Aid Societies

Urban renewal projects aimed at revitalizing poor areas improved public health and safety with better infrastructure.
Mutual aid societies provided support for the sick and injured, contributing to community welfare.

Causes of the Industrial Revolution

Increased agricultural productivity through new tools led to food surpluses and population growth.
Advances in energy sources (coal, steam), demand for mass-produced goods, improved technology, and stable governments fostered economic growth.

Resulted in the rise of factories, urbanization, and significant challenges like child labor, but also led to the formation of the middle class and labor unions.
Innovations in transportation and communication alongside medical advancements improved overall living standards.

Effects of the Industrial Revolution: Economic

Introduced assembly lines and mass production, lowering goods prices and increasing job demands.
Shifted economies from rural to industrial, creating competition among nations and rising monopolies in big business.

Effects of the Industrial Revolution: Political

Governmental changes reflecting increased industrialization and growing labor movements, influencing policy and economic structures.

Description

Explore the key concepts distinguishing the working class from the middle class through flashcards. This quiz includes definitions, labor union reasons, and impacts of pollution on the working class. Test your knowledge and enhance your understanding of social class dynamics.