Question

During the Victorian Era, what did the middle class primarily engage in?

A. Lost money because factories did not make any money.
B. Indulged in wealth and tried to outdo each other in manners and behaviors.
C. Worked in the factories because that was the only job available at the time.
D. Created jobs for the lower class.

Answer 1

The middle class in the Victorian Era focused on work, consumption, and education, aiming to advance their social status, creating jobs, and contributing to the growth of commerce.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the Victorian Era, the middle class primarily engaged in consumption, work, and education, and focused their efforts on maintaining or advancing their social status. This emerging social class consisted of individuals such as owners and supervisors of industries, as well as professionals like engineers, accountants, and bureaucrats. Women in the middle class generally managed domestic duties, while middle-class children attended school and were raised with pursuits that taught the values and skills necessary for social success. The middle class also endeavored to create a moral and disciplined society, and their lifestyles contrasted sharply with both the upper elitist classes who inherited wealth, and the working class who labored in factories under often grim conditions.

The middle class did not just sponge off the wealth created by industrialization; they were the ones who managed and operated the businesses that created jobs for the working class. Therefore, instead of losing money or merely working factory jobs, the middle class played a critical role in the socio-economic landscape by creating jobs and contributing to the growth of commerce during the Victorian Era.