Wealth and Poverty

All money at the time either belonged to the higher classes or to the church. All the peasants had to work for, either, a small plot of land to grow their food or a small wage to buy their food.

The wealthy monasteries all over England were closed and subsequently looted thanks to King Henry VIII when he established the Church of England. These riches were sold to local landowners making both them and the King very rich. Very little of this wealth went to help the people in poverty.

Most working class people earned very little for their work in factories despite working very long hours. To earn more money, they sent their children to work as well.

The divide between the working and middle classes was massive, making it almost impossible to change between the classes.

People were spending all of their money on alcohol and were having to sell their possessions in order to pay for their lifestyles.

1900: Most men worked with their hands (e.g miners) whereas, unmarried women would be domestic servants for the upper and middle classes. They would work long hours for minimal pay.

2000: Now that many factories and shipyards have moved their work to other, cheaper countries people are starting to take other jobs. This has led to more skilled jobs getting filled and the middle class growing.