Source 17.7: Inequality

In the early industrial era, almost everyone became acutely aware of the sharp inequalities of social life. Of course, class differences had characterized all civilizations since ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. But now those inequalities were experienced within the confined space of city life; they found expression in two relatively new social groups — the urban working class and the growing middle classes; and they occurred as democratic ideas and socialist movements challenged the ancient legitimacy of such inequalities. These features of the early industrial era are illustrated in Source 17.7, an image by British artist John Leech, published in 1843 in Punch, a magazine of humor and social satire.

Questions to consider as you examine the source:

Capital and Labour

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Capital and LabourThe Granger Collection, NYC — All rights reserved