Sozial Classes in England essays

Sozial Classes in England essays The development of the English class Society A class is a group of people within a society who possess the same socio nomic status. (www.britannica.com) Class is defined by, for example, the behaviour, marriage and the rights and obligations between a certain group of people. Castes, possession and status are historically seen much older than the social phenomenon class. In 1688 Gregory King divided English society into twenty-six ranks and degrees. Classes did not emerge until there was a division of labour in society. The word class first came up during the Industrialisation and was created by Karl Marx. Marx divided society into three groups of people, the aristocracy, bourgeoisie and the proletarian masses. Also called the upper class, middle class and working class. Long before the Industrial Revolution successful men of business, politics and the professions had become part of the aristocracy. The generation between 1920 and 1950 saw a more rapid social change than any other British generation before. It was a silent transformation which was brought out by reforms. The main aims were the distribution of income, social security and equality of opportunities. The power of the old ruling class began to dissappear long before 1920.The generation of that time saw its collapse. Between 1914 and 1918 Britain spent as much money as it spent in the two centuries before and owed the United States a lot of money. In consequence heavy taxes were imposed and the rich had to give up their wealth to the state. In 1922 the aristocratic families were still well off but the workers movement started becoming a political force. One by one the ancestral homes which had for so long been the pride of England were sold and some of them were turned into hospitals, schools and similar other institutions. By 1950 only a few of the great country houses were left in the original use. In 1930 the major...