Working class

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/working-class

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the historical catalyst?The Industrial Revolution fundamentally reshaped labor and created distinct working-class communities
2. What does the term "working class" mean?The working class is made up of people who do jobs that keep towns and cities running, like building bridges, making food, and fixing roads. They earn wages from their work and usually do not own the factories or businesses they work in.
3. Why did workers fight for an 8‑hour workday?Workers fought for an 8‑hour workday because they worked long hours in factories, which was hard on their health and left little time for family and rest.

Means of Production: The facilities, tools, and raw materials required to produce goods and services.
Collective Bargaining: The process where a group of employees negotiates with their employer for better terms of employment.
Deindustrialization: The decline of industrial activity in a region or economy, often leading to job losses in manufacturing.