Middle Class
Definition
The middle class refers to individuals who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class within a societal hierarchy, typically characterized by moderate to high income levels, personal and professional jobs, home ownership, and higher education.
Analogy
Think of the middle class as the sandwich filling in a society sandwich. They're not the bread on top (the upper class) or the bottom slice (the working class), but they make up a significant part of what's in between.
Related terms
Socioeconomic Status: This refers to an individual's or family's economic and social position relative to others based on income, education, and occupation.
Suburbanization: The process of population movement from urban areas to suburbs. This is often associated with the growth of the middle class post-World War II.
Income Inequality: The unequal distribution of household or individual income across various participants in an economy. It is often presented as the percentage of income related to a percentage of population.
"Middle Class" appears in:
Study guides (4)
Practice Questions (9)
Which piece of legislation in the 1800s significantly contributed to the growth of the middle class by enabling common people to purchase land at affordable prices?
Whose inventions during the industrial revolution significantly boosted productivity and fostered the growth of middle class?
Which social conflict contributed most directly to the development of the Middle Class in the United States during the 19th century?
How did railroads contribute to development of the middle class in late-19th-century America?
Which of the following was a significant effect of the growth of the middle class?
During America’s industrialization period, how did rising incomes contribute to developing the middle class?
What was a key factor that stimulated the development of the middle class in early 19th century America?
Which invention had a significant impact on the growth of the middle class during the American Industrial Revolution?
What federal policy, implemented after 1945, contributed significantly to suburbanization and growth of the middle class in America?
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