Social Stratification in 19th Century Europe

The New Society: Social Classes in the 19th Century

The new society was divided into various social classes that replaced the more open estates. These groups included:

The Aristocrats

Although their group privileges were deleted, the conservative majority remained the source of power. They often had to marry into wealthy bourgeois families, control municipalities, or join the army and administration. Most of the bourgeoisie aspired to become landlords and live like the nobility.

The Bourgeoisie

Industrialization and the abolition of feudal privileges allowed this class to grow. Their way of life and social position were defined by several factors:

• Economic Situation: Their status proceeded from their businesses. Many managed estates, while others owned property to rent or engaged in commerce, such as the colonial slave trade. Their position was supported by their cultural preparation and education.
• House and Family: The home was a private space that reflected achieved social status. Unlike the traditional extended family, the bourgeois family focused on the nuclear unit of father, mother, and children, with the father as the central figure.
• Leisure: The bourgeoisie enjoyed social spaces such as cafe gatherings, clubs, casinos, and the theater or opera. By the end of the century, they began to practice sports like tennis and golf.

The Peasants

Peasants remained the largest group of the population, maintaining a traditional way of life. They were generally conservative and opposed to liberalism and socialism. Two groups were distinguished:

• The Affluent: Those who benefited from liberal measures and became landowners or tenants.
• Laborers: Landless workers who were paid for their labor. They were abundant in southern and eastern Europe, where revolutionary ideologies like anarchism took root.

Workers in the City

Industrialization led to the rise of urban workers and the service sector. As factories replaced artisanal production, the number of low-skilled, easily replaceable industrial workers increased. Child and female labor were common.

Alongside industrial workers were highly skilled artisans who controlled their trade. From 1880, these groups began to join forces to protest their situation. The service sector also grew, including civil servants, clerks, and domestic staff.

Living Conditions: Industrial workers faced deplorable conditions, particularly in neighborhoods lacking public services. These conditions improved throughout the 19th century due to social action and the pressure of the labor movement. Many workers chose to emigrate, while others turned to alcohol, crime, or prostitution. Leisure was limited to cabarets, music halls, and the tavern.