The Second Industrial Revolution

The Second Industrial Revolution brought unity and prosperity to the once uneconomical Europe. Products such as railroads, coal, iron, and textiles, as well as the discovery of electricity, and use of chemicals, petroleum, and steel, are all contributes to what is referred to as the Second Industrial Revolution. These products brought improvement and advancement to all social classes.

The Middle Class was profited greatly due to the Revolution. Some were even starting to merge with upper class due to the wealth of entrepreneurs, marriages of upper middle class to upper class, and such. Schools also helped them find unity where upper middle class sons were allowed to study with elite upper class.

Steel being substituted for iron was one of the original changes made during the Second Industrial revolution. This change made smaller and faster engines and better railways and ships. The new transportation advances such as the construction of many new rail lines (due to the substitution of iron for steel) made it possible for all social classes to travel and be tourist. It was very popular on weekends for working and middle class to travel to amusement parks, to the beach, dancehalls, or sport stadiums, where they could watch a newly organized professional sport.

Discoveries in mmedicine and the environment improved nutrition as well as reduced unsanitary urban environments which carried diseases, poor water quality, and unproper removals of sewage. Urbanization is the term used to described the boom in population during this time in urban areas. Sanitary reforms stepped up during this time and developed ways to sanitize the most filthy parts of Europe.

Many women struggled with the "Woman question" during this time. Should a woman stay home and do the only considered honorable job of being a wife and mother or should she apply herself in the workforce and bring additional income to her family. Women could only work low paying "white collar jobs" such as being a secretary; yet these jobs gave women a sense of importance & worth.