Upper Classes vs. Lower Classes In The 1890's

Leisure & Activities

Gender Roles (Jobs In Society)

Fashion

Upper Class:

• The men liked to keep their hair short, and have a pointed beard with a moustache. In addition, they wore elaborate trousers and waistcoats.
• Women wore fancy dresses with very tight corsets, and the skirt gathered at the waist, which fell over the layers of petticoats and undergarments.

Lower Class:

• Men wore plain trousers and ragged, patched coats.
• Women dressed in fewer undergarments, but still wore many layers of petticoats, not as extravagant as the upper class.

Upper Class:

• Most men inherited wealth from their fathers, owned lots of property, and either controlled and profited from trade, commerce, technology and industrial advancements, or worked in a specific profession.
• When women married, they became "mistresses" of the house.

Lower Class:

• The working class consisted of a range of peasants, and working laborers.
• Women worked as servants, factory workers, prostitutes, or any other job they could find.

In both of the classes, when women married, tried to marry for money, and were responsible for running and overseeing household duties, and having many children.

Upper Classes:

• The prosperous people had more free time than the lower class; therefore they attended classical theaters, music halls and went to the seaside.

Lower Classes:

• The lower class constantly had to work, but the government granted the workers at least one day off.

In both classes, sports and music halls became popular. The sports that emerged included: rugby, lawn tennis, volleyball, and bike riding. People also enjoyed reading, and they enjoyed the first Sherlock Holmes book. In addition, the first cheap camera was invented and people had an interest in photography.

Identify and explain which class each character you think belongs in.

• George Tesman
• Hedda Tesman
• Miss Juliana Tesman
• Mrs. Elvsted
• Judge Brack
• Eilert Lovborg
• Berta

• Look at the picture and identify if the picture would fit best in the lower or upper class.
• Explain why you think the picture would best fit that class.

Houses

Sources

Upper Class:

• In the 1890s, the new style of the houses was called Art Nouveau. This specific form of art involved flowing, curving lines and plant shapes.
• Inside the houses, there was tons of furniture, decorations, and ornaments. Also, they added bathrooms and indoor toilets.

Lower Class:

• Some of the working class people had their lifestyle improved; they had houses that consisted of two rooms downstairs and two or three bedrooms upstairs. Similar to the some of the upper class homes, a few of the working class people were able to install an indoor toilet.
• However, there were still many families living in one roomed homes.

http://www.localhistories.org/19thcent.html

https://www.apstudynotes.org/european-history/outlines/chapter-24-life-in-the-changing-urban/

http://fashionhistory.zeesonlinespace.net/p1890s.html

http://www2.ivcc.edu/gen2002/women_in_the_nineteenth_century.htm

http://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/gender-roles-in-the-19th-century

http://science.jrank.org/pages/9080/Education-in-Europe-Nineteenth-Twentieth-

Education

Food

Upper Class:

• Young men would either be tutored at home, or sent to a private or public school. They would obtain a full understanding to all subjects: math, reading, writing, science, history, and languages.
• Young ladies received a governess who taught a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and languages, the ideal education for a woman.

Lower Class:

• The government provided the funds to give poor children an education that consisted of reading, writing, and arithmetic.
• According to the government, it stated that children must go to school until they reached a certain age.

Both classes of society believed that women could study as long as the education did not interfere with the housework.

Upper Class:

• They were available to an assortment of foods; including the latest foods.
• Their food ranged from the consumption of white bread, butter, margarine, biscuits, such as the Garibaldi biscuit, and milk chocolate.

Lower Class:

• In the beginning of the 19th century, the lower class ate plain food such as brown bread, butter, potatoes, and bacon. Butcher's meat was considered a luxury.
• However, their diet improved throughout the century. Since the Industrial Revolution could process and make food quicker, bread and imported meat was cheaper. Also, people began to consume more and more sugar.
• But, by the end of the century, not everyone was exposed to these better and cheaper foods.

Sources

Upper Classes vs. Lower Classes In The 1890's