Mass Society in an "Age of Progress"
1871-1891
"The movement is everything; the final goal is nothing."
- Eduard Bernstein
1871-1891
"The movement is everything; the final goal is nothing."
- Eduard Bernstein
CHAPTER 23: MASS SOCIETY IN AN "AGE OF PROGRESS", 1871-1891
The Age of Realpolitik was followed by the Age of Mass Society, or Mass Politics. This term refers to the fact that more Europeans, in particular those of the working classes, were enfranchised. For the first time in European history, the true common man- the workers along with the middle class- had a direct voice in the system that governed them (in Western Europe, at least). This was not true for all Europeans however; women still had not been given the right to vote, but the women's suffrage movement picked up speed as the socialist political parties of Europe gained traction among the working classes. Additionally, Eastern Europeans still did not enjoy the same democratic or constitutional freedoms as their Western neighbors. Russian peasants still lived in largely agrarian communities devoid of industry or much public education. Another marked difference between east and west was the development of a mass consumer culture that took place in the west; department stores, international trade, new job markets for men and women, and new technologies introduced by the Second Industrial Revolution all changed the way European lived and ushered them into a more modern world that we might actually recognize today. Politically, western European leaders began to embrace some of the agendas of the working classes, as they realized it was more beneficial to improve the lives of the working class rather than keep them in a state of institutional poverty. The middle class's view of liberal economics changed as conservatives began to introduce socialist reforms in an effort to sway these newly-enfranchised voters away from the red lure of communism and socialism.
The Age of Realpolitik was followed by the Age of Mass Society, or Mass Politics. This term refers to the fact that more Europeans, in particular those of the working classes, were enfranchised. For the first time in European history, the true common man- the workers along with the middle class- had a direct voice in the system that governed them (in Western Europe, at least). This was not true for all Europeans however; women still had not been given the right to vote, but the women's suffrage movement picked up speed as the socialist political parties of Europe gained traction among the working classes. Additionally, Eastern Europeans still did not enjoy the same democratic or constitutional freedoms as their Western neighbors. Russian peasants still lived in largely agrarian communities devoid of industry or much public education. Another marked difference between east and west was the development of a mass consumer culture that took place in the west; department stores, international trade, new job markets for men and women, and new technologies introduced by the Second Industrial Revolution all changed the way European lived and ushered them into a more modern world that we might actually recognize today. Politically, western European leaders began to embrace some of the agendas of the working classes, as they realized it was more beneficial to improve the lives of the working class rather than keep them in a state of institutional poverty. The middle class's view of liberal economics changed as conservatives began to introduce socialist reforms in an effort to sway these newly-enfranchised voters away from the red lure of communism and socialism.
Chapter 23 Spielvogel slides:
ch_23_spielvogel_slides.pptx | |
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labelleepochcharacteristics.ppt | |
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Ch 23 Reading Guides:
ch_23_part_1_reading_guide.docx | |
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ch_23_reading_guide_part_ii.docx | |
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ch_23_reading_guide_part_iii.docx | |
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Ch 23 Reading Packet:
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Chapter 23 - RCQ
ch23_reading_guide_rcq.docx | |
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Assignments: The Paris Commune and Bakunin's Anarchism.
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Watch the following scenes from the classic Charlie Chaplin comedy Modern Times. What does this film mean to say about the effect of factory work on workers? How does it transform them? Dehumanize them? Where do you see evidence of "scientific management methods"?
Tom Richey explains the 2nd Industrial Revolution!
"Nora" is a short British film made in response to Henrik Ibsen's revolutionary play "A Doll's House." The film is a portrayal of the modern-day "Nora" and modern societal pressures on women. Do you think Ibsen's play is still relevant to women's issues today?
History of Sports: Football (Soccer)
History of Etiquette in Society: