Fiveable
Fiveable

or

Log in

Find what you need to study


Light

Find what you need to study

6.8 19th-Century Social Reform

4 min readfebruary 12, 2023

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

was beginning to take its toll on the people, especially those in the and cities. Uneducated workers—male and female—suffered in grueling conditions with extremely low pay and cruel treatment. Moral issues were raised about the institution of , , and even alcohol!

In response to the treatment of workers, multiple and movements arose to push for social and economic changes. In 1834, the first trade union was created in England. Known as the , it was a mix of workers in various trades that sought basic reforms: better wages, fewer hours, and the regulation of child labor. 💵

Movements for Rights and Reform

Poverty and a lack of general education were rampant in the cities, especially when it came to children. To counter this, various social movements, usually religious, popped up to fix the problem despite having no government support, including the introduction of .

Some blamed alcohol as the source of the woes of the , including crime, poverty, and alcoholism itself. Temperance advocates argued that alcohol was a social and moral evil that needed to be eradicated, and they promoted a range of measures to achieve this goal. These measures included education and public awareness campaigns, legal restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol, and the establishment of alternative recreational activities and venues. 🍺🙅

In various parts of the world, and still existed. The institutions had become a moral issue, and abolishing them seemed to be the morally righteous route. Religious groups began to advocate for the abolition of in England’s numerous colonies as part of the .

Women also played an important role; they were some of the most vocal and active advocates for social reform. pressed for legal, economic, and political rights for women as well as improved working conditions. However, they also demanded universal male and female suffrage. 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏽

Politics and Parties

and social movements soon evolved into mass political parties representing a specific subset of people. These groups now had an impact on politics due to a large number of supporters from the

emerged as sophisticated vehicles for social, economic, and political reform. The political affiliations of various economic classes created ideological divides and fostered new ideas about policy.

Mass-Based Political Parties

Conservatives and Liberals in Great Britain

The Liberal Party emerged in the mid-19th century and quickly became a major force in British politics. It was a coalition of various progressive and reform-minded groups, including Whigs, radicals, and free traders. The party advocated for individual rights, religious tolerance, and economic liberalism, supporting a wide range of social and political reforms, including the extension of voting rights, the abolition of , and the establishment of public education.

The Conservative Party, which had previously been dominated by aristocrats and the landed gentry, also began to evolve into a mass-based party during this period. It drew support from a wide range of conservative and traditionalist groups, including the Church of England, rural landowners, and industrialists. The party supported traditional values, economic protectionism, and the maintenance of the established social order.

Both parties recognized the importance of building broad-based coalitions in order to win elections and achieve their policy goals. They developed sophisticated campaign strategies, including the use of mass media, public rallies, and grassroots organizing, and relied heavily on patronage and political mobilization to build support.

Conservatives and Socialists in France

In France during the 19th century, there were two with different ideological orientations: the socialists and the conservatives.

The represented the interests of the . It was influenced by Marxist and socialist ideas and sought to improve the lives of workers through political action.

On the other hand, the French conservative movement was represented by various parties throughout the 19th century, including the , the , and the . These parties were influenced by conservative and royalist ideas and sought to maintain the traditional power structures of French society. The conservative movement was supported by the aristocracy, the Catholic Church, and other conservative groups.

The conservative and socialist parties were in constant opposition to each other, with each seeking to promote its own interests and ideology. They clashed over issues such as workers' rights, the role of the state, and the distribution of power in society!

Political Parties Representing Workers

The German Social Democratic Party

The , founded in 1875, was the first major socialist party. It emphasized social democracy, democratic socialism, and progressive policies, including a strong social welfare state, workers' rights, and equality. The party was formed through the merger of several Marxist and labor parties and sought to advance the interests of the through political means.

The British Labour Party

The was founded in response to the perceived failure of the Liberal Party to address the concerns of the . It sought to provide a political voice for workers and the broader labor movement, including calls for better working conditions, , and a reduction in the power of the aristocracy.

The Russian Social Democratic Party

The (RSDLP) was founded in 1898 and was the main socialist political party in Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The party was founded by a group of Marxist intellectuals who sought to organize the and overthrow the autocratic regime of the Tsar.

Key Terms to Review (20)

Bonapartist Party

: The Bonapartist Party was a political group in France that supported the ideas and leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte and his family. It emerged during the 19th century, particularly during the Second French Empire (1852-1870).

British Abolitionist Movement

: The British Abolitionist Movement was a social and political campaign in the 18th and 19th centuries aimed at ending the slave trade and slavery in the British Empire.

British Labour Party

: The British Labour Party is a major political party in the United Kingdom that was founded in 1900. It has traditionally been associated with advocating for workers' rights, social justice, and democratic socialism.

Conservatives and Liberals in Great Britain

: These are two major political ideologies that have shaped the political landscape of Great Britain. The Conservative Party, often known as Tories, traditionally supports free market capitalism, a strong national defense, and upholds traditional values. The Liberal Party (now part of the Liberal Democrats) advocates for social liberalism, civil liberties, electoral reform and progressive policies.

Feminists

: Feminists are individuals or groups who advocate for women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.

French Socialist Party

: The French Socialist Party is a political party in France that was founded in 1905. It advocates for social democracy and democratic socialism, promoting policies such as wealth redistribution, social justice, and public ownership of key industries.

German Social Democratic Party

: The German Social Democratic Party (SPD) is Germany's oldest political party still in existence. Founded in 1863, it advocates for social justice, civil rights, and democratic socialism.

Great Trade Union

: The Great Trade Union was a large-scale labor organization formed in England during the 1830s. It aimed to unite different trades and industries under one umbrella to fight for better working conditions and wages.

Industrialization

: Industrialization is the process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods. Individual manual labor is often replaced by mechanized mass production, and craftsmen are replaced by assembly lines.

Legitimist Party

: The Legitimist Party was a royalist political faction in France during the 19th century. They supported the senior line of House Bourbon for the French throne following the overthrowing of King Charles X during July Revolution in 1830.

Mass-Based Political Parties

: Mass-based political parties are political organizations that seek broad public support by appealing to widespread concerns among voters. They often represent large demographic groups within society.

Orleanist Party

: The Orleanist Party was a political faction in 19th-century France. They supported a constitutional monarchy under the House of Orleans, believing that government should be led by a king who shares power with elected officials.

Russian Social Democratic Labour Party

: The Russian Social Democratic Labour Party was a revolutionary socialist political party formed in 1898 in Minsk, Belarus. It later split into two factions: the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin and the Mensheviks.

Serfdom

: A status of many peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism. It was a condition of debt bondage and indentured servitude with a lord that was hereditary from one generation to another.

Slavery

: Slavery is a system where individuals, known as slaves, are treated as property and forced to work without consent or pay. This system was prevalent in many parts of the world until the 19th century.

Sunday School

: Sunday School refers to religious education classes that typically take place on Sundays in churches. They are designed for children and adults alike to learn about their faith's doctrines, traditions, practices, and scriptures.

Temperance Advocates

: Temperance advocates were people who campaigned for moderation or complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. They believed that alcohol was the root cause of many societal issues, including domestic violence and poverty.

Trade Unions

: Trade unions are organized associations of workers in a trade, group of trades, or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests.

Universal Suffrage

: Universal suffrage refers to the right for all adult citizens to vote without restrictions based on race, sex, belief, wealth, or social status.

Working Class

: The working class is a social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work.

6.8 19th-Century Social Reform

4 min readfebruary 12, 2023

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

was beginning to take its toll on the people, especially those in the and cities. Uneducated workers—male and female—suffered in grueling conditions with extremely low pay and cruel treatment. Moral issues were raised about the institution of , , and even alcohol!

In response to the treatment of workers, multiple and movements arose to push for social and economic changes. In 1834, the first trade union was created in England. Known as the , it was a mix of workers in various trades that sought basic reforms: better wages, fewer hours, and the regulation of child labor. 💵

Movements for Rights and Reform

Poverty and a lack of general education were rampant in the cities, especially when it came to children. To counter this, various social movements, usually religious, popped up to fix the problem despite having no government support, including the introduction of .

Some blamed alcohol as the source of the woes of the , including crime, poverty, and alcoholism itself. Temperance advocates argued that alcohol was a social and moral evil that needed to be eradicated, and they promoted a range of measures to achieve this goal. These measures included education and public awareness campaigns, legal restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol, and the establishment of alternative recreational activities and venues. 🍺🙅

In various parts of the world, and still existed. The institutions had become a moral issue, and abolishing them seemed to be the morally righteous route. Religious groups began to advocate for the abolition of in England’s numerous colonies as part of the .

Women also played an important role; they were some of the most vocal and active advocates for social reform. pressed for legal, economic, and political rights for women as well as improved working conditions. However, they also demanded universal male and female suffrage. 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏽

Politics and Parties

and social movements soon evolved into mass political parties representing a specific subset of people. These groups now had an impact on politics due to a large number of supporters from the

emerged as sophisticated vehicles for social, economic, and political reform. The political affiliations of various economic classes created ideological divides and fostered new ideas about policy.

Mass-Based Political Parties

Conservatives and Liberals in Great Britain

The Liberal Party emerged in the mid-19th century and quickly became a major force in British politics. It was a coalition of various progressive and reform-minded groups, including Whigs, radicals, and free traders. The party advocated for individual rights, religious tolerance, and economic liberalism, supporting a wide range of social and political reforms, including the extension of voting rights, the abolition of , and the establishment of public education.

The Conservative Party, which had previously been dominated by aristocrats and the landed gentry, also began to evolve into a mass-based party during this period. It drew support from a wide range of conservative and traditionalist groups, including the Church of England, rural landowners, and industrialists. The party supported traditional values, economic protectionism, and the maintenance of the established social order.

Both parties recognized the importance of building broad-based coalitions in order to win elections and achieve their policy goals. They developed sophisticated campaign strategies, including the use of mass media, public rallies, and grassroots organizing, and relied heavily on patronage and political mobilization to build support.

Conservatives and Socialists in France

In France during the 19th century, there were two with different ideological orientations: the socialists and the conservatives.

The represented the interests of the . It was influenced by Marxist and socialist ideas and sought to improve the lives of workers through political action.

On the other hand, the French conservative movement was represented by various parties throughout the 19th century, including the , the , and the . These parties were influenced by conservative and royalist ideas and sought to maintain the traditional power structures of French society. The conservative movement was supported by the aristocracy, the Catholic Church, and other conservative groups.

The conservative and socialist parties were in constant opposition to each other, with each seeking to promote its own interests and ideology. They clashed over issues such as workers' rights, the role of the state, and the distribution of power in society!

Political Parties Representing Workers

The German Social Democratic Party

The , founded in 1875, was the first major socialist party. It emphasized social democracy, democratic socialism, and progressive policies, including a strong social welfare state, workers' rights, and equality. The party was formed through the merger of several Marxist and labor parties and sought to advance the interests of the through political means.

The British Labour Party

The was founded in response to the perceived failure of the Liberal Party to address the concerns of the . It sought to provide a political voice for workers and the broader labor movement, including calls for better working conditions, , and a reduction in the power of the aristocracy.

The Russian Social Democratic Party

The (RSDLP) was founded in 1898 and was the main socialist political party in Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The party was founded by a group of Marxist intellectuals who sought to organize the and overthrow the autocratic regime of the Tsar.

Key Terms to Review (20)

Bonapartist Party

: The Bonapartist Party was a political group in France that supported the ideas and leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte and his family. It emerged during the 19th century, particularly during the Second French Empire (1852-1870).

British Abolitionist Movement

: The British Abolitionist Movement was a social and political campaign in the 18th and 19th centuries aimed at ending the slave trade and slavery in the British Empire.

British Labour Party

: The British Labour Party is a major political party in the United Kingdom that was founded in 1900. It has traditionally been associated with advocating for workers' rights, social justice, and democratic socialism.

Conservatives and Liberals in Great Britain

: These are two major political ideologies that have shaped the political landscape of Great Britain. The Conservative Party, often known as Tories, traditionally supports free market capitalism, a strong national defense, and upholds traditional values. The Liberal Party (now part of the Liberal Democrats) advocates for social liberalism, civil liberties, electoral reform and progressive policies.

Feminists

: Feminists are individuals or groups who advocate for women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.

French Socialist Party

: The French Socialist Party is a political party in France that was founded in 1905. It advocates for social democracy and democratic socialism, promoting policies such as wealth redistribution, social justice, and public ownership of key industries.

German Social Democratic Party

: The German Social Democratic Party (SPD) is Germany's oldest political party still in existence. Founded in 1863, it advocates for social justice, civil rights, and democratic socialism.

Great Trade Union

: The Great Trade Union was a large-scale labor organization formed in England during the 1830s. It aimed to unite different trades and industries under one umbrella to fight for better working conditions and wages.

Industrialization

: Industrialization is the process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods. Individual manual labor is often replaced by mechanized mass production, and craftsmen are replaced by assembly lines.

Legitimist Party

: The Legitimist Party was a royalist political faction in France during the 19th century. They supported the senior line of House Bourbon for the French throne following the overthrowing of King Charles X during July Revolution in 1830.

Mass-Based Political Parties

: Mass-based political parties are political organizations that seek broad public support by appealing to widespread concerns among voters. They often represent large demographic groups within society.

Orleanist Party

: The Orleanist Party was a political faction in 19th-century France. They supported a constitutional monarchy under the House of Orleans, believing that government should be led by a king who shares power with elected officials.

Russian Social Democratic Labour Party

: The Russian Social Democratic Labour Party was a revolutionary socialist political party formed in 1898 in Minsk, Belarus. It later split into two factions: the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin and the Mensheviks.

Serfdom

: A status of many peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism. It was a condition of debt bondage and indentured servitude with a lord that was hereditary from one generation to another.

Slavery

: Slavery is a system where individuals, known as slaves, are treated as property and forced to work without consent or pay. This system was prevalent in many parts of the world until the 19th century.

Sunday School

: Sunday School refers to religious education classes that typically take place on Sundays in churches. They are designed for children and adults alike to learn about their faith's doctrines, traditions, practices, and scriptures.

Temperance Advocates

: Temperance advocates were people who campaigned for moderation or complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. They believed that alcohol was the root cause of many societal issues, including domestic violence and poverty.

Trade Unions

: Trade unions are organized associations of workers in a trade, group of trades, or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests.

Universal Suffrage

: Universal suffrage refers to the right for all adult citizens to vote without restrictions based on race, sex, belief, wealth, or social status.

Working Class

: The working class is a social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.