From a perspective of historical materialism, the shift from craft to factory work changed the urban landscape, populating the big cities and forcing the population of rural areas to migrate to the urban centers in order to find job and the means to survive. This in turn created great disparities between the factory owners —capitalists in general— and the workingmen. Exploitation of the latter became the norm, but so did social unrest and upheaval; labor unions became more widespread and with them came more rights for the people in general which prompted new political ideas centered around the notion of the Welfare state, justice and equality. In many ways, it is safe to argue that the shift just explored coincides with the rise of capitalism and a new strife for workingmen to secure their survival and dignified living conditions.