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Economic Systems and the Working Class

Driving Question: How did workers respond to the changes of industrialization?

As industrialization spread, it transformed societies. Industrial capitalism enriched some, but many others struggled in the face of industrial changes. A new urban working class—people paid an hourly wage in exchange for their labor—emerged. Living and working conditions were often miserable. As a result, new economic ideologies, like socialism, emerged to challenge capitalism. In many places, the working class united to demand better pay and working conditions.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Compare and contrast the economic systems of capitalism and socialism.
  2. Evaluate how different groups responded to increasing industrialization from c. 1750 to 1900 CE.
  3. Use a graphic biography to support, extend, or challenge the overarching narratives of this period.

Vocab Terms:

  • feminist
  • middle class
  • proletariat
  • reform
  • socialism
  • suffrage
STEP 1

Economic Systems and the Working Class

The Industrial Revolution upended the organization of human communities, but some things remained consistent. Compare the social pyramids of medieval and industrial society to see what changed.

STEP 2

The Working Class

When there’s a huge difference between the “haves” and the “have-nots,” there are bound to be problems. In this activity and article, you’ll examine the causes of this divide and see how people responded.

STEP 3

Challenging Industrial Capitalism

The growing pains of industrial capitalism gave rise to a new economic system that sought reforms. These resources examine the emergence of a working class and socialism.

Capitalism and Socialism: Crash Course World History #33 External link

Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution each contributed to the growth of the other. But their combined effects created socialism as people struggled to respond to changes.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
Extension Materials
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Use this activity—an interactive simulation—to extend your learning about the economic systems of capitalism and socialism.
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Economic Theories

During the nineteenth century, some folks, particularly wealthy industrialists, benefited big-time, while others, mainly workers, not so much. Is it any wonder that many started to have different ideas about who got what—and how much?