The English culture is very interesting as well as unique. The changes taking place during the 18th century were largely what shaped the modern day English culture. The government was divided into two parties; the Whigs and the Tories. Each party had its own newspaper, parades, and even had its own theaters. The Tories controlled the Church during this time. They even controlled most of the famous Oxford University. The Whigs also controlled a University. Theirs’ was Cambridge University. The Whigs were mostly businessmen, and financiers. This system can be compared to the government system used in the United States. With the Republican and Democratic parties differing on certain topics, 18th century England is to thank.
The people of this time divided themselves into social classes uses wealth as a method of deciphering. The middle and upper classes always had plenty of the finest items of the time period. Never did they have to hunger for meat and the finest liquor. The poor families, on the other hand, could hardly enjoy these fine items. They had to work for everything they had. Hunger was very common among the poor. In very low times all the people could eat was whatever bread they could get their hands on. The cities were often crowded and the people had to live very dirty and over populated areas. Sickness and disease were very common. The most famous of all these was smallpox. In such tight accommodations smallpox was passed from person to person with ease. When a person did get ill with something they were sent to a hospital that might help. If a person with hardly any social standing came into a hospital with a contagious disease the workers were often reluctant to help them. Life outside the cities wasn’t any easier. Farmers were often found sharing shelter with his animals not to mention his six to ten children and wife. The homes were made of soil and dirt or even pieces of wood lashed together.
The two classes lived together in somewhat harmony. The upper class would even help the lesser fortunate when they could, or more commonly when it made them look good. The English society of that time came up with a list of rules for each class to follow during everyday life. For the poor the rules where: 1) Work steadily, 2) spend no money on alcohol, 3) Avoid bad company, 4) Keep no dogs for they steal from your children, and 5) Be quiet and content, never steal or swear. These rules where written the way they were so the people of the poor class looked presentable to the upper class. In return, the rich were to help them if they could. The upper class too had its set of rules. They include: 1) Don’t buy starch when you can buy wheat, 2) Kill all useless dogs, 3) Do not feed any animals your food, 4) Go to church, and 5) Only help the poor who work, go to church, and don’t keep useless dogs.
The men of this time typically made most of the money in the household. Women did most of the housework. So women, however, did go outside of the home and find work. This was more common amongst the lower class. On farms men did most of the physical work. They did the plowing, planting, and harvesting. On occasion a woman may go out to help her husband during harvest time if they didn’t have a good number of children. Inside the women cooked, brewed ale, knitted, washed, taught young, gardened, and made butter. Some women chose to set up shops in the market and sell different products. This helped the income a lot in the lower class families.
The clothing of the time was very decorative. The women of the upper class wore nothing but the best material and the finest crafted outfits. First they put on their linen shirts. These shirts hung down below their knees. They then tied a string around their waste fastening the shirt. The corset was next. A corset was a tightly fastened body suit made of cloth and either metal or whalebone strips. This device was used shape the body into any figure desired. The figure of the time was comparable to an hourglass. Big on the top and bottom, but skinny in the middle. Most women are not naturally shaped like this so much strain was put on the body when a corset was worn. Women did much damage to their bodies like tearing skin, and even bruising internal organs. It has also been noted that a woman actually died because her corset was tied too tight. Men usually shaved their heads and then wore wigs. These wigs were much easier to manage than a real head of hair. Men were rarely seen without their wigs on if they owned one. Also many wore three point cocked hats. Three piece suits were definitely the most common attire for men. The pants were cut really high and didn’t go past the knees. Some even carried canes.
The schools of the time were constantly opening and closing. The students who attended classes were responsible for paying fees. These fees paid the teacher’s salary as well as the materials needed. Different generations brought different groups of students. If most of the students were from wealthy families the class could afford to pay the fees and keep the school open. If the majority of the students were from the lower class, they probably couldn’t afford to pay for the teacher much less pay for the materials. Only men were allowed to attend a University. About 200 men each year attend one of the two Universities. So not many people were educated past a couple of years. If they were they were already associated with the upper class. This is why the 18th century England was divided into such obvious classes. If the poor were allowed to educate themselves they could have had survived on their own.
Works Cited
Olsen, Kirsten. Daily Life in 18th Century England. The Greenwood Press: West Port, CT. 1999.
Turberville, A.S. English Men and Manners in the Eighteenth Century. Oxford University Press, 1926.
Written By Ryan Utterback