06-Utopian Socialism to Amana Microwave Ovens

Lecture 6 Utopian Socialism to Amana Microwave Ovens W hile industrial capitalism brought important benefits to society in terms of new wealth and opportunity, it also created great problems . The conditions of working‑class life in America’s big cities during the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries were miserable . The unsatisfactory—and often exploitative—conditions inspired many different social and political movements . Some were predominantly religious in nature, seeking spiritual inspiration and solution . Others, such as the trade unions, had economic orientations . Many approaches were a mixture, combining political, social, economic, and religious answers to alleviate the miserable conditions of the increasing numbers of the poor, urban working class . The more religious or philosophical movements got the label of “utopian socialist .”