Economic Inequality In The 19th Century

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Most would look at capitalism as a great thing. Products get sold and a commission is made. But the reality is that this outcome is only good for one group for people, and that is the entrepreneurs. The working class suffers from “capitalism” in many ways, and even more so in the 19th century. In this time period the working class struggled with many difficulties. They were living in beyond poor conditions, dealing with famine, and terrible working conditions. Life was not easy for them. 

Wealth was held by very few at the top of society. This concentrated economic power seemed undemocratic and problematic to much of society. Social class divisions had become worse which seemed to violate what many thought were principles of equality.
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In pre-industrial times, most workers were fairly to highly skilled and were paid by the quality of the product. In industrial times, most workers were less skilled and were paid by the hour or by the piece. Working-class families often found it hard to make ends meet. Overall, wages in the era did increase but the cost of living also increased. The average annual wages for a family of 4 in 1890 were $380. Yet in that same year, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the subsistence income for a family of 4 was $530. In general, workers were not sharing in the new wealth being created by industrial capitalism. Another harmful strike against the workers were the long exhausting hours they worked. Work weeks could be 10, 12, or 14 hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week. Some industries, such as the steel industry, had shifts that were 24 hours on, 24 hours off. Many critics thought that the long hours and relentless pace were exploiting the workers. There was little attention to safety measures. There were abundant industrial accidents (death, loss of limbs, etc.) The work also took its toll on workers bodies through long-term chronic conditions such as lung diseases and muscular deformities. In this period,
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