June 2nd: The Age of Empire (Ch. 5 – 8)

1. Summary:

Chapter 5, titled Workers of the World, discussed how the democratic political structure caused the creation and evolution of the working class political group (the Proletariat eventually becoming Social Democrats), increase organization and power over decisions for their state. Even though multiple levels/groups existed among this large working class – they were still able to unite. This newly found unity caused many new working-class movements and the creation of many new working- class political parties.

Chapter 6, titled Waving Flags: Nations and Nationalism, discusses how the nationalism ideology rose significantly after the start of the democratic society. Author Hobsbawm pointed out four events that caused this ideology to become extremely popular. The first was that the political right took over and spread the patriotism and nationalism ideologies. The second event was the spread of the notion of national self-determination taken from President Wilson after World War I ended. The third event was the assumption that national self-determination could not be anything other than the whole independent state. The last event that Hobsbawm states caused the rise in nationalism was the repeated definition of a nation focusing on the terms language and ethnicity.

Chapter 7, titled Who’s Who or the Uncertainties of the Bourgeoisie, discussed the fall of the upper class (the Bourgeoisie) after the spread of the democratic society. In some countries, the bourgeoisie were forced to leave the whole political scene all together because the majority of voters would just completely ignore them. Another reason why the bourgeoisie group fell was due to the money that had been passed down in these families was lavishly spent by the heirs. The other factor in this fall was due to the emancipation of women and increase in taste and style of people between the adolescence and marriage groups.

Chapter 8, titled The New Woman, focused on the emancipation movement of women. Although during this time period not as many women were involved (as there would in the future), the movement still had a huge affect on society. Birth rates dropped due to women marrying later (toward the end of their 20s) or having less children (because infant mortality). The cost along with the desire of having a higher standard of living also encouraged some families to reproduce less often with the increased use of birth control. The need for both the mother and father to work became more common. Because the pressure of being the bread-winner was put on the father, the mother could work for less pay –which could take jobs from other men; this created a high level of competiveness and for women to take worse jobs (where they could not earn as much) which caused them to rely on the male. After emancipation of women, some changes became extremely noticeable. One of the changes was the increase in freedom of movement for women in relations with men and in society in general. Another change was to the increase in public attention to women through individual aspirations and through the group’s special interests.

2. What was interesting/what did you learn:

I thought it was extremely interesting in how the higher standard of living “forced” families to have fewer children and have the women work. I know that in today’s world, it is quite common (at least in America) to have both parents work and for the adolescences to work too. Of course this depends on the family situation but I never really thought about why this was. I guess I always knew it was due to the high standard of living but I just never really thought about when this change occurred.

3. Discussion Point:

I want to raise the question that if the standard of living had not been raised, would women ever be given a chance to work and receive equal rights? Is it possible that this is what is holding other societies from granting women such freedoms?