The Political and Cultural Climate that the Titanic was Built During
The early 1900’s was a time of change for both Britain and the US. The most affordable and long distance travel was either by rail or by sea. These trips were also not something to be rushed since new technologies and the design of ships were ever changing. A motor car was a rare sight on the streets since large scale production had only begun in 1902. Travel by aircraft was also unknown to those traveling in the early 1900’s because although mechanized flight was a real possibility it was still being developed. Flight was reserved for air shows and military applications, not commercial travel. Postal mail was also delivered by rail or sea but the transfer of messages by cable to the United States was now possible (Barratt, 2010).
Culturally, Great Britain still maintained strict class divisions during the early 1900’s, resulting in the development of more luxurious cabins onboard transatlantic ships, to accommodate the increasing number of wealthy passengers. Ships were now developed with different standards based on class and how much money one had. The Titanic had three separate tickets, first, second, and third class, which determined where your room on the vessel was located and what accommodations you had access to (Barratt, 2010).
The political climate in Great Britain included the formation of the Labour Party in 1900. The Labour party consisted of working people and trade unions who were trying to get representation in the electoral system. Property owners were the only people allowed to vote, including women. Under this law some men were excluded from voting because they were not property owners. Strikes and riots erupted during this time period as well as protests from coal miners and dock workers. Tension was also growing between Great Britain and Germany over colonial interests in Africa. Great Britain’s navy had been unchallenged since 1805 but the fleet was always at the cutting edge of naval technology. The navy saw a need for large ships if a war were to arise, so it subsidized the development and commissioning of mercantile vessels that could be adapted for naval use. Shipping companies were able to afford larger and faster ships while the government supported a key economic sector and increased its reserve of ships. The Titanic and her sister ships, the Olympic and Britannic, were designed for these purposes (Barratt, 2010).
Commercially, larger ships were needed to carry the increasing amount of transatlantic freight, which included goods, mail, cargo, and passengers. Ellis Island opened in 1892 in order to process the increasing amount of immigrants into the United States. By 1907, 1.25 million people had passed though the island. America was seen as a place to escape hardship and persecution so many traveled across the Atlantic to start a new life or because they were being pushed out of traditional work, such as agriculture. Others crossed to find their fortune in the gold rush or to visit family and friends in America. The time that it took to make the transatlantic voyage had decreased significantly from a month to two weeks and would continue to get shorter as faster vessels were developed (Barratt, 2010).
The picture at the top of the page is of the 1893 coal strike ("1893 Coal Strike," 1893 Coal Strike).
Culturally, Great Britain still maintained strict class divisions during the early 1900’s, resulting in the development of more luxurious cabins onboard transatlantic ships, to accommodate the increasing number of wealthy passengers. Ships were now developed with different standards based on class and how much money one had. The Titanic had three separate tickets, first, second, and third class, which determined where your room on the vessel was located and what accommodations you had access to (Barratt, 2010).
The political climate in Great Britain included the formation of the Labour Party in 1900. The Labour party consisted of working people and trade unions who were trying to get representation in the electoral system. Property owners were the only people allowed to vote, including women. Under this law some men were excluded from voting because they were not property owners. Strikes and riots erupted during this time period as well as protests from coal miners and dock workers. Tension was also growing between Great Britain and Germany over colonial interests in Africa. Great Britain’s navy had been unchallenged since 1805 but the fleet was always at the cutting edge of naval technology. The navy saw a need for large ships if a war were to arise, so it subsidized the development and commissioning of mercantile vessels that could be adapted for naval use. Shipping companies were able to afford larger and faster ships while the government supported a key economic sector and increased its reserve of ships. The Titanic and her sister ships, the Olympic and Britannic, were designed for these purposes (Barratt, 2010).
Commercially, larger ships were needed to carry the increasing amount of transatlantic freight, which included goods, mail, cargo, and passengers. Ellis Island opened in 1892 in order to process the increasing amount of immigrants into the United States. By 1907, 1.25 million people had passed though the island. America was seen as a place to escape hardship and persecution so many traveled across the Atlantic to start a new life or because they were being pushed out of traditional work, such as agriculture. Others crossed to find their fortune in the gold rush or to visit family and friends in America. The time that it took to make the transatlantic voyage had decreased significantly from a month to two weeks and would continue to get shorter as faster vessels were developed (Barratt, 2010).
The picture at the top of the page is of the 1893 coal strike ("1893 Coal Strike," 1893 Coal Strike).