Social Classes In The 1800s

Generally speaking, the term "class" has an extensive background. Throughout history it has been sculpted to the definition of the related time period. For the most part, the scale of distinct social classes can be (and were by the classes themselves) distinguished by inequalities in such areas as authority, wealth, working and living conditions, life-styles (Cody, 2002). In light of this, the mid 1800 's in the ever-changing United States was a time of social identification. To clarify, groups of individuals began to categorize themselves in a wide scale reform. As a matter of fact, the most common terminology would be to put it simply as those belonging to the upper class, the middle class, the working class, and the under class.

With this in mind, the new unfolding nation seemed to uphold what appeared to be adjacent to an old hereditary aristocracy. Subsequently, this was reinforced by the new gentry who owed their success to commerce, industry, and the professions, evolved into …show more content…
Inasmuch, they encompass industrialists, engineers, and merchants as well as physicians and attorneys. On the condition they acquired full-fledged professional status in the same manner as those who managed large public or private plantations. Uniquely, they honored a code of etiquette that addressed behavior and morality traits like self discipline (Rich, Poor, and Middle Class Life, 2008). By all means, that group of people wanted to be consciously separate from the lower middle that incorporated independent shopkeepers, small businessmen, and small manufacturing shop owners. In addition to that, they were also classified as white collar employees that owned no property, and made no more money than unskilled blue collar workers (Rich, Poor, and Middle Class Life, 2008). Above all, they considered themselves upwardly mobile, and hoped to join the upper echelons of their class by accumulating