Extent of social unity/division across 1890-1914/change in different social groups

Question 1

How did workers lives change over the period?

Answer 1

• 1883 Medical Insurance
• 1884 Accident Insurance
• Recognition of trade unions - Caprivi
• reduction of women’s working hours
• restrictions on child employment
• 200,000 trade unions workers striked per year 1905-13

Question 2

Groups that had positive change & the factors

Answer 2

JUNKERS
• high in society
• leisurely lives
• involved in politics

WORKING CLASS
• strikes increasinly common
• cramped conditions
• real wages increased 30%
• life expectancy increased

INDUSTRIAL ELITES
• new industrial techniques
• comfy lives + homes
• involved in local politics

URBAN MIDDLE CLASS
• benefited from industrialisation
• population grew by 60%
• proud of positions
• well enough in society

(PEASANTS)
• moved to cities to work in industry
• joined working class ranks
• growing population = moved to cities and towns
- still lowest in society

Question 3

Groups that had negative change & their factors

Answer 3

WOMEN
• still can’t vote
• working class women had hard labour
• factory jobs = more women in work

LOWER MIDDLE CLASS
• held strong values
• wanted education for their children
• hoped for positions in local council’s

JEWS
• rise of anti-semitism
- von Treichtske (wrote the founding document of modern political antisemitism