Society & Thought in the Late
1800's
History M01B - Krister Swanson - Moorpark College
Last Pop. Boom & Migration
- 1850: 266m people, by 1910: 447m people
- Europe 1st, then boom in 3rd world
- emancipation of serfs, improved transportation, industrialization
migration
- of every 7 new, 1 stays in rural, 1 leaves, 5 go to cities
2nd Industrial Revolution
- Late 1800’s
- gap closes between continent & GB
- Continental RRs spur growth
- Characterized by steel, chemicals, electricity & oil instead
of textiles, steam & iron (1st Rev.)
Key Developments in 2nd Rev.
- Bessemer » cheap, strong steel
- Solway » more efficient chemical production
- science & industry linked, esp. in Germany
- 1881- electricity aids production
- Telegraph & telephone speed commerce
- 1887- internal combustion engine demand for oil (sub, airplane,
car)
- synthetic fabrics
- explosives » great tunnels
- assembly line & conveyor belt
- free trade, import more than export
- some make big $ in invisible exports (capital, insurance,
currency exchange)
Economic Ups & Downs
- New, cyclical, industrial corporate economy
- 1850-73 general prosperity
- outside competition (U.S.) & bad weather slow things down
- 1873-banks fail » investment slows
- economic stagnation emigration, unions & socialism
- late 1800s- more $ spent on consumer goods new marketing &
retailing
MC Rises to Prominence
- done with revolution after 1848
- Now have enough power to exclude lower WC & protect gains
- Increasing diversity within the MC:
- very rich
- professionals & small entrepreneurs
- teachers, bureaucrats
- white collar/petty bourgeoisie
- tension between these groups within the MC
- all work to define MC lifestyle (material possessions) &
pursue opportunities for social status
- Countries with large MC will hold Socialists at bay
Urbanization to the Max
- 1850- 25% (Fr.) & 30% (Ger.) in cities, by 1911-44%(F) &
60%(G)
- rural migrants worst off – face bad housing, anonymity,
unemployment
- ethnic groups in close proximity for 1st time
- competition » racism & anti Semitism
Cities are Redesigned
- centers: commerce, gov’t & culture (people live around, not
in)
- Old districts leveled, new organized streets replace them
- modern sewers, subways, & electric light change hrs. &
scope of life
- parks, theaters, etc.
- new types of structures (steel)
- MC wants away from congestion, WC wants affordable housing
» growth of SUBURBS
- Increased separation of home & work
- urbanization detachment more nationalism
- Sanitation becomes key concern, fear of cholera
It Sucks to be poor
- family/room, 50-100/toilet
- tenements are source of health & political danger
- good housing » good home life happy people
- gov’t incentives for affordable housing
- goal is MC housing for all
New Availability of Education
- 1885- pub. schools in most countries (NW ahead of SE), mandatory
by 1910
- Education makes better voters, workers, soldiers, etc.
- literacy » new job opportunities, contact with new ideas
- newspapers » ads (consumerism) & editorials (politics)
- break free from intellectual environment
Scientific Domination
- Comte’s 3 Stages of Thought:
- theological
- metaphysical
- positive
- positive laws apply to society
- 2nd IR » science
Darwin Explains Evolution
- physical laws apply to living things
- basis in Malthus » natural selection, later proven by Mendel
- contradicts biblical & deist creation
- changing nature » changing society OK
- Copernicus part II
Darwinism»Changed Ethics
- Spencer:
- progress thru competition
- If you protect the weak, society pays price
- struggle is ethical imperative
- Social Darwinism: “might makes right”
- Huxley opposes - evolution interferes with ethical development
Jewish Emancipation
- Starts with enlightenment & Nap Code
- gradual thru 1800s, more in west
- After Revs of ‘48 Jews have equal rights in most countries
- Participate more freely in culture, education & politics
- Align with liberals, later with socialists
- face personal discrimination
- Russian conditions remain the worst:
- passports, living restrictions
- censorship
- limited jobs & ed.
- pogroms
- many emigrate eastwest
Backlash vs. Jews (late 1800’s)
- Economic stagnation » Jews become scapegoat (banking)
- 1880’s- renewed anti-Semitism in Germany
- 1890’s- Dreyfus Affair
- minority turn to Zionism (nationalism), most think liberals will
protect them