... of cities and economy brought many new members to the "Middle Class Community". The term was used to describe those members of society who were below the aristocracy but above the workers; "the middling sort". The middle class spread wide across the population from small shopkeepers to large factory owners. They made great fortunes during the industrial revolution through mass production, trade and commerce, property and investment in innovation. A good example is Wedgwood Pottery. Wedgwood began to produce and market their goods to the middle class. As they began to live better lifestyles the demand for better quality goods grew. The working class wanted to live the middle class lifestyle and so it was a case of 'keeping up appearances' that stimulated consumerism. The money from enterprises such as Wedgwood equaled success which was often then converted into political power. The 1832 Reform Act gave the vote to a ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now