Informational Essay
OPTION B: Pick two areas that you would like to focus on to show the differences between the social classes during the Industrial Revolution. They could be housing, clothing, food, jobs, leisure activities, and so on. Then, apply technology and research images that represent the differences for each class. You will need a total of six pictures, two from each social class. As you collect images, write brief descriptions of each including the approximate time period and region of the world and any other facts you find interesting.
Upper class:
Middle class:
Lower class
Upper Class:
1. Housing: The upper class during the Industrial Revolution enjoyed luxurious and spacious homes. An example of such housing is the Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England. Built in the early 18th century, this palace represents the grandeur and opulence of the upper class during this time. It features vast gardens, extravagant interiors, and extensive grounds.
2. Clothing: Upper-class individuals wore lavish and elaborately designed clothing during this time. A prime example is the portrait of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (also known as Sisi) painted by Franz Xaver Winterhalter in 1864. Sisi was known for her stylish and fashionable outfits, which exuded elegance and wealth.
Middle Class:
1. Housing: The middle class experienced significant improvements in their housing compared to the lower class but were still not as extravagant as the upper class. A typical example of middle-class housing during the Industrial Revolution can be seen in the Georgian townhouses in Bath, England. These terraced houses were built between the 18th and 19th centuries and often consisted of several stories, with each floor accommodating a separate family.
2. Clothing: The middle class had access to more comfortable and fashionable clothing than the lower class but did not exhibit the same level of luxury as the upper class. A notable example is the painting "The Parasol" by Francisco Goya, completed around 1777. The subject's clothing, although not as extravagant as the upper class, displays a sense of style and sophistication commonly associated with the middle class.
Lower Class:
1. Housing: The lower class during the Industrial Revolution lived in cramped and unsanitary conditions. A typical representation of lower-class housing during this era can be seen in the tenements of East London. These buildings were densely populated, with multiple families often sharing small, poorly maintained apartments without proper sanitation facilities.
2. Jobs: Many individuals from the lower class worked in factories and mills, performing grueling and dangerous labor. An image capturing this aspect is the photograph titled "Inside a Cotton Mill" taken by Lewis Hine in 1908, in the United States. The photograph shows young girls employed in a cotton mill, highlighting the harsh working conditions that many lower-class individuals had to endure.
Overall, these images showcase the stark differences in living conditions, clothing, and employment opportunities between the upper, middle, and lower classes during the Industrial Revolution. The technological advancements of the time period greatly influenced the lifestyles and social standing of each class.