The Division of Labor
Driving Question: How did industrialization drive the evolution of class identity?
Factories didn’t just divide jobs, they divided people. As labor became more specialized, the line between the workers and those with power became harder to cross.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn about the impact of new economic theories and the creation of the modern system of social classes.
- Use the historical thinking practices of comparison and causation to analyze why people demanded reforms in this era.
- Use a graphic biography to support, extend, or challenge the overarching narratives of this period.
Vocab Terms:
In this lesson, you’re going to learn about how industrialization transformed class dynamics. Zooming in on the lives of several individuals will help you understand the human impacts of these big changes.
The Assembly Line Simulation is a great hands-on activity. Be sure to read the instructions ahead of time in the Lesson Guide. You’ll need multicolored paper, markers, scissors, and tape. Be sure to print off the Factory Team worksheets and, if you’re going to use them, the optional individual worksheets ahead of time.
This simulation is the sort of activity that students remember because it’s very hands-on. In your debrief, ask students why workers accepted these sorts of conditions and demands. It’s a great way to embed long-term learning.
These materials show how industrialization changed both factory work and social class, helping us understand the growing divide between groups.
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Guiding Questions
Industrialization pushed people to fight for change. This article and graphic biography will help you explore how class identity shaped reform efforts and how people challenged the system from within.
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Guiding Questions
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Guiding Questions
Looking to include more women in history class? “How Do You Include Women in the Story?” is full of ideas from the OER Project teacher community!
Read a graphic biography about an industrial worker and consider how she would reflect on the changes of the Industrial Revolution.
when people have different status based on their wealth, occupation, education, and similar factors
Reformers in Russia looked to soften or erase the distinction between such social classes as the serfs and the nobility.