Class Notes

COLLECTIONS: Notes.

CLASS.

1. Who were the upper class?

Distinctive elements of UC life:

• Note – class was not determined solely by wealth. Family, property, possessions, ‘breeding’, politeness and connections also influenced it. E.g. Scot politician George Dempster said 30 in London made him better off than Laird of Col in Western Isles.

• Key distinction from MC: their wealth came from land.

• David Cannadine labels 1780-1830 as the birth of the Eng UC because of the spreading of their lifestyle.

2. Who were the working class?

Distinctive elements of WC life:

• In contrast with the MC, WC lit levels remained low. E.g. Mid-C18th, 1/3 men and 2/3 women could not sign last name.

• E P Thompson has argued that the period 1780-1832 saw a significant development for the WC as they became aware of their political oppression (fits in with Marxist school).

• Tended to be more interested in fortune telling and superstition (“deeply embedded in the English countryside” [D&H]).

Employment:

• Being on relief was a notable feature of the WC.
  Paul Langford has argued that “nothing more clearly created ‘two nations’” than the relief system.

3. Who were the middle class?

Distinctive elements of MC life:

• Particular focus on manners: “nothing unified the middling orders so much” (Paul Langford).

• Reading was important for the MC. Improved lit levels in contrast with WC.
  ‘Chief entertainment’ (Irish theologian Philip Skelton, 1780s).
  Growth of libraries e.g. Bristol Library Soc (130 members) 1773.
  Enabled them to get taste of aristocracy.

• Linked to this was a rise in publishing, e.g. est. of literary reviews like Critical Rev.
  “a peculiarly characteristic expression of the MC England of their day” (Langford).

• Typical MC man: James Luckcock of B’ham.

• Born in ‘humble life’ (self-quoted).

• Began career in buckle making and worked up jewellery ind to make 400/year. Started own business but had to sell on retirement.

• Offered lessons in writing, arithmetic, book-keeping, geography and drawing.

• Lived in a suburb of Edgbaston.

• Family v important to him (motivation in business).

• Wife helped in business when nec. Her support was invaluable.

• Joining of societies – way to partake in society.

• More assoc with rationality and common sense (D&H argue roots of Victorian mindframe).

• Brewer estimates earned 50-400 pa (however defining ‘MC’ was more complicated than this).

• It is hard to define exactly who the MC was. Basically, it can be said that they had to be able to afford more services (e.g. medicine) than the basic artisan or peasant (Langford).

• It is also important to remember that the MC was not a highly unified group – perhaps the least of all three classes. “The stratification of the MC was almost infinite” (Langford).
  E.g. country apothecary v society doctor.

4. Did the period see the emergence of the MC?

Why? PCCEEM

• Growth of politeness and taste:
  Paul Langford credits.

growth in mkt for luxury e.g. mahogany from America, china (Chelsea, Bow est 1750s), mirrors, as well as more affordable products like Staffordshire pottery.

• Commercial development:
  opportunities both to spend (thus encouraging the circle of copying MC behaviours) and earn.
  Emph by Jonathan Smith in the Examiner in 1710.
  E.g. industrialisation in B’ham.

Emphasis on borrowing money strong (e.g. punishment severe, Defoe compared credit to a mistress) – suggests important.

• Economic expansion:

War with France, ind, low taxes.

• Empire:
  More products = more consumerism.

• Growth of media:
  image spread through magazines e.g. ‘Gentleman’s Mag’ or ‘Trader’s Monthly Intelligencer’.
  V. susceptible to trends e.g. Gentleman’s was the name that rep’d ‘Traders’’ – not right image.

• Series of crises:
  War, trade changes, labourer pressures, French Rev, mad king George. Brought out common interests.
  Davidoff & Hall.

Thompson takes further, adding development of capitalism to development of shared interests.

Was the development of the MC simply an attempt to copy the gentry?

• Desire for status was undoubtedly a part of MC growth: natural as class is based on status.

• It is true to argue that the MC mocked other members of their own class, suggesting that the MC was developed by a desire to resemble the gentry.
  ...

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