The Rich and the Poor and those in Between

Sunny Yang Pachilai Vang

Sammy Vang Shriji Shah

Lilly Moua Period 4

Inequality of Income The first great change that improved the lifestyle of

an average person was the increase of wages. The wages rose but there was inequality between the

wealth and income of the rich and poor.– 5% of the richest household received 33% of the

national income– The middle class, which is 20% of the population,

received more than 50% of the national income– All the income of the working classes together did not

equal as much as the upper and middle class. Industrial and urban development made society more

diverse and less unified.

Middle Class

Beginning in the 20th century, there was a mass diversity within the urban middle class.

Upper middle class were mainly successful business families from banking, industry, and large scale commerce.– Leaned towards an aristocratic lifestyle– Tried to create a new upper class

Middle middle class were much larger, less wealthy, and had an increasingly diverse group.

Continue…– The result of technology and industry expansion

resulted in the demand for skilled and knowledgeable experts.

Lower middle class were independent property owning shopkeepers, small business people, and white-collar employees– These white-collar employees were fiercely committed

to the middle class and to the ideal of moving up in society.

– Although white-collar employees were well educated, they had no technical skills so they tried to obtain a middle-class status through professional jobs

White-collar employees

Continue… Middle class were united by their lifestyle and

culture. Most of household budget was spent on food. Favorite social occasion was having a social

parties. The middle class hired servants and call

themselves the “servant-keeping class.” The food and servants together absorbed

about 50% of the income of all subgroups of the middle class.

Social Gatherings

Continue… The middle class were well housed by 1900.

– They usually rented instead of buying their own home. The factory and department store reduced the cost and

increased the variety of clothing. Middle class parents tried to provide their children with

more advanced and crucial education. They were loosely united under an expected behavior.

– Preached constantly by middle-class people. Drunkenness and gambling was seen as an immoral

conduct while sexual purity and fidelity were celebrated as virtues.

The Working Class The urban working class were less unified

than the middle class due to the economic development and increase of skills.

About 4 out of 5 people belonged to the working class.– Depended on physical labor and had no domestic

servants– This was mostly in E. Europe, but in C. and W.

Europe, most workers left the land.

The Working Class

Continue… Skilled working class aka labor

aristocracy– 15% of the working class– Labor aristocracy recieved 2/3 of the

income, 2x more than the unskilled – Jobs: construction bosses, factory

foreman, cabinet-makers, jewelers, and painters

– They were under constant pressure.

Continue…

– In order to maintain their status they adopted some values and behaviors.

– They looked down upon heavy drinking and sexual permissiveness.

Semiskilled were carpenters, brick layers, pipe fitters, and workers in established crafts who often socialize with the labor aristocracy.– A large number of the semiskilled were factory

workers who had a relatively good wage and increase their importance in the labor force.

Labor Aristocracy

Continue… Unskilled Workers

– Unorganized and divided even

more– Consisted of day laborers but largest group

was the domestic servants.• Domestic servants had limited

independence and were in danger of sexual exploitation

Unskilled Workers

Working-Class Leisure

Wanted fun and recreation activities Drinking remained the favorite leisure

activities– Heavy drinking was unacceptable, but it

became more social and public Sports

– Cruel sports decline by the late nineteenth century (ex: bullfighting and cockfighting)

Continue…

–Racing and soccer were the most popular modern sports

–Gambling occurred at sport events. Music halls, vaudeville theaters, middle-

class opera, and classical theaters were popular.– Audience were thoroughly mixed and

variety of themes.

Working-Class Religion Religion and Christian churches continued to

have an influence on the working-class people by providing them comfort.

The Church attendance declined in the working class because they became more secular and less religious.– The churches failed to keep up with the rapid

growth of urban population.– Catholic and Protestant churches were seen as a

conservative institution who defended social order and custom.

The Urban Social Hierarchy