The "middle-class" ideal that developed in the early 19th century included which of the following elements?
A) Women were socially and legally equal to men and were encouraged to choose between working and staying in the home (avoiding wage-labor in the factories).
B) Men were to be the income earners providing for the family's material needs while women were to play a greater role regarding the family's spiritual needs.
C) Apprenticeships, rather than public schools, would better serve the need of preparing children for middle-class careers.
D) Poverty among the lower classes was due not to their moral failure but rather low wages, uncertain employment, and lack of economic opportunity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The middle-class ideal in the early 19th century emphasized the breadwinner-homemaker model, where men were expected to work and provide for their families' material needs, while women were responsible for the family's spiritual and domestic needs. This ideal excluded women's participation in wage labor and encouraged them to stay in the home. The other choices are inaccurate or not related to the middle-class ideal.

The "Middle-Class" Ideal That Developed in the Early 19th Century