Rich vs. Poor
By: Tori Underwood
Work Life
Richer men and women had a different working experience than those of the lower class. The rich, such as Rockefeller, usually owned big companies. They usually were at the top of the business food chain and had workers beneath them. One example is Carnegie, who had owned a steel monopoly. While the rich were busy making money in big business, the poor were working long hours in factories. These workers usually included children, women, and immigrants. The working conditions in these factories were unsafe and unsanitary. For example, the Triangle Shirtless factory had working conditions so bad that a fire began in 1911. In this fire, 146 women workers died.
Housing
The living conditions differed greatly between the rich and the poor. The rich lived in penthouses or mansions. The usually had rooms to themselves, and sanitary conditions to live in. The poor had a very different experience than this. They usually lived in small apartment building called tenements. These apartments were just one room and housed around 8 people. These rooms did not have windows and were very dark and dirty. They were very overcrowded and this made it easier to spread diseases and made conditions much more dangerous.
Child Life
Not only did the rich and poor adults have different experiences, but their children did also. Children coming from wealthier families usually had more time to play and be kids. Then, when the kids grew up they were able to go and get an education in universities such as Princeton. Poorer children did not have time to play. They had to help support their families. They worked in factories. They worked very long hours. The conditions in these factories were very dangerous. These conditions usually led to accidents within the work place.
Leisure Activities
Just like most other things in the lives of the rich and the poor, their leisure activities were quiet different also. The rich liked to watch sports or play games. For example, some liked to play croquet. They didn't have long hours to work so they had time for more activities. The poor did work long but they did not work so long to relax and enjoy themselves. They made time for little things before and after work. Most people did things such as go to church. These were leisure activities to them because they usually had to work so when they did get time to relax and socialize with their peers, they enjoyed themselves.