19th Century Society: Urbanization, Class Structure, and the Bourgeois Lifestyle

The Rise of Urban Society and the Bourgeois Century

The Urban Phenomenon and Demographic Shift

The population increase in Europe and the U.S. was remarkable. The European mainland population doubled, reaching 400 million, which strained resources. The U.S. received many immigrants, multiplying its population tenfold.

This population growth was characteristic of industrialized countries, most of which entered a period of transition towards the modern demographic cycle, characterized by declining birth rates and mortality.

Mass Migration and Urban Growth

Europeans commenced migrating; these migrations were facilitated by advances in transport and communications. Since 1850, migration increased, primarily destined for transoceanic locations, especially the USA.

A key migration trend was the progressive shift from rural areas to towns. Cities grew rapidly without planning, and social classes spread across different neighborhoods.

Social Transformation: New and Old Classes

In the nineteenth century, wealth became the basic criterion that distinguished individuals and social groups. The old social order was replaced by social classes more open to enrichment and the pursuit of personal talent.

The nineteenth century is known as the Century of the Bourgeoisie, as it was the class that benefited most from societal changes.

The Aristocracy: Retaining Land and Influence

The aristocrats, though formerly the dominant social group, did not disappear, but their privileges and even some titles were removed over time. They retained possession of the land. Many aristocrats aspired to live like bourgeois landowners.

The Bourgeoisie: Engine of Change

Industrialization and the decline of Old Regime privileges enabled the growth and influence of the bourgeoisie. They possessed distinct characteristics and lifestyles:

Bourgeois Lifestyle and Characteristics

Economic Foundations and Professional Status

The social position of the bourgeoisie stemmed from their financial, industrial, and commercial businesses. Their economic resources included:

• Acquired landed property from ruined nobles.
• Ownership of urban real estate or colonial affairs.

Professional status was often linked to culture and education. A smaller, influential group included senior management, lawyers, and engineers. Although professions were not hereditary, the wealth acquired allowed their children to pursue studies or marry into noble or landowning families, thus perpetuating the dominant social groups.

Home, Family, and Social Status

For the bourgeois, the house was a private space symbolically reflecting their achievements and social position. The bourgeois family structure was nuclear (father, mother, and children), contrasting sharply with the much larger extended or peasant family.

Leisure, Customs, and Social Exclusion

The bourgeoisie and aristocracy frequented exclusive social spaces, actively avoiding commoners and poor workers. Their leisure activities included:

• Gatherings in coffee houses or private casinos.
• Attending the theater or opera.
• The wealthiest attended aristocratic salons and dances.

In Britain, sports began to gain popularity, fostering competitive national feeling and individualism. Another notable difference was the generally ostentatious and plentiful clothing worn by these classes.