What Form Did Class Consciousness Take?

Abstract

T H E existence of socio-economic groups differentiated by inequality in the distribution of wealth and power, and by actual or potential conflict over the means by which that distribution was made, was only part of class history. Such inequalities exist in all but the most primitive societies. These inequalities became more important after 1780, because the middle and labouring classes began to achieve a sense of their own identity, interests and opposition to other groups: in other words a class consciousness.