6.2 The Social Issue

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

people in this lesson

Samuel van Houten

Robert Owen

Charles Dickens

Karl Marx

Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis

TODAY

1. Photography, a new invention
2. What was The Social Issue?
3. photos  / film clips
4. continue summary 6.2

• "Social" comes from the Latin word "socius", which means  "fellow man" (medemens).
• "social" is therefore always about people.
• An "issue" is a problem that needs to be solved.

• Thus: 
• The Social Issue in the 19th century refers to the growing problem of the terrible working- and living conditions of factory workers in the cities.

Lesson 6.2  The Social Issue

AGE 8. The Time of Citizens and Steam Engines

6.2 The Social Issue

SOCIALISM = a political movement that campaigns for equality between rich and poor people in society.

What do socialists want?

• improve the lives of the poor working people.
  
• How? 
  
• They believe that the government should interfere in the economy, make (social) laws.
  
• They campaign for expanding voting rights so poor people can vote as well.
  
• They help workers organise and set up Trade Unions
  
• Some even argue that a REVOLUTION is the only way to change things
  

AGE 8. The Time of Citizens and Steam Engines

6.2 The Social Issue

Trade Unions  (vakbonden)

• Workers organised themselves in trade unions.
• Only if they protested together they could force their employers to make changes (improve working conditions)
• Their fiercest weapon was STRIKE (staking).
• Trade Unions fought for social legistlation (sociale wetten), like 
•       minimum wages
•       8 hour working days 
•       unemployment benefits
•       an old age pension
•       ban on child labour

AGE 8. The Time of Citizens and Steam Engines

6.2 The Social Issue

Trade Unions today