Question

What conditions led to the development of a new middle class in Europe ?

Answer 1

Emergence of middle class in Europe:

a. The industrial revolution witnessed the rise of new social groups, middle class comprising of industrialists, businessmen, professionals who believed in the social structure that was based on merit and not birth.
b. They believed that no group should be privileged on account of birth rather a society must be based on the principles of freedom, equal laws and opportunities.
c. It was this class that belonged to liberal nationalist thinking and led the revolutions.
d. It was the liberal, educated middle-class who demanded the end of aristocratic privileges and encouraged national unity.
e. They were inspired by the doctrine and ideas of liberalism and demanded government based on the consent, and stood for freedom and equality for all.
​

Answer 2

In Western Europe and parts of Central Europe, the growth of industrial production and trade meant the growth of towns and the emergence of commercial classes whose existence was based on production for the market.
Industrialisation began in England in the second half of the 18th century, but in France and parts of the German States, it occurred only during the 19th century.
In its wake, new social groups came into being, a working class population and middle classes made up of industrialists, businessmen and professionals.In Central and Eastern Europe, these groups were smaller in numbers till late 19th century.
It was among the educated, liberal middle classes that ideas of national unity following the abolition of aristocratic privileges gained popularity.