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Working Class In 1914 Essay

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In Britain, the war caused a minor redistribution of income, mainly due to progressive taxation and the introduction of flat-rate pay increases for manual workers narrowed some pay differences (Broadberry 210). After 1921 the wage disproportions widened again, however in families were the main bread winner was employed poverty percentages had diminished. Most manual working-class wages were able to keep pace with inflation and in 1919 - 1920 working hours were reduced substantially, for those who were not employed, unemployment insurance was upgraded substantial to extend coverage to two-thirds of the male labor force in 1920 (Broadberry 211). Unemployment was a chief problem after the war due to hefty casualties and wounded soldiers, who …show more content…

The working class in 1914 was fairly larger than in the early 1920s, therefore the class divisions became much less apparent after the war due to increased government intervention for the working class and larger taxation on the upper class or aristocracy. Levels within the working class became less obvious as a result of the development of skilled workers and the development of a more consistent pay rate (J., De Groot Gerard 52). Great achievements stimulated through trade union activity and a growth of political awareness within the working class were also taking place, which were motivated through trade union activity and a growth of political awareness within the working class. For the upper and middle classes there was a distinctive shift in power from the landed elite to the business and industry owners. Little change in the ratio of population to land ownership by the upper class and the noticeable difference for the post war class structure was motivated by higher taxation rates for the wealthy (J., De Groot Gerard 54-55). The main change for the middle class was the large increase in the number of people working in the careers such as civil service and managers. All mainly due to the increase of welfare standards and the growth of modern

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