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1789 - 1848 - The era of Revolutions
At this time, social structures as well as the landscape are changing.
The main idea of the French Revolution,
claiming all men to be equals with equitable dignity, is spreading.
Central Europe's ultimately successful attempt
to rid itself of the French regime in the so-called Napoleonic Wars, or German Campaign,
is the reason for an obvious militarization.
Life is based on strict conventions and regulations.
Technical developments take place in a growing industrialization, but not in the town's society.
Still, you can see parts of the city wall. However, town and castle do not constitute separate legal entities, any longer.
The castle is an expression of sovereignty, but has no authority over the town or the country.
It has turned into military academy.
Only men who are neither peasants nor Jews are eligible to become army officers.
In town diseases are spreading because of the disastrous hygienic conditions.
The cholera is raging.
Social differences are quite apparent.
There's neither canalization, nor waste disposal, but many rats and vermin.
The Death Well symbolized the lack of hygiene.
Behind the church, there's a burial for freedom fighters,
which died in the fight for democracy.
Priests of all confessions are present.
At the church, a new organ is being delivered.
It is supposed to bear witness to an existing prosperity.
The church plays an important role in social and welfare matters,
as seen in the soup kitchen.
In front of the Town Hall, a discourser is opining democratic ideas as verbalized by author Heinrich Heine.
He's demanding the liberalization of society, and the participation of all classes
in social advancement and achievements, as well as political co-determination.
German-French celebrations are symbolic for the pan-European fraternization in the democracy movement.
More and more, market booths are being replaced by permanent shops.
The town has a police force which is very present.
Here, a printer's press of a liberal printer's shop is being destroyed.
A growing censorship is an expression of governmental restrictions against democratic ideas.
The town greens are open to the entire public.
There is an enthusiastic devotion to classical antiquity and later on, to anything medieval:
historic monuments and statues are being raised.
Te bourgeoisie adopts attributes of the formerly noble lifestyle,
but appoints them with their own strict morals:
it's the dawning of the Biedermeier era.
Two lovers are symbolizing the breach with family oriented morals.
There are family gatherings, and people wed within their own social class structure.
Middle-class women are not working, but learn housekeeping.
Unmated women often work as skives for wealthy families.
A café shows middle-class leisure time.
People are promenading, and there's a child playing hoops.
The first railway (a steam engine) shows locomotion and the development of an infrastructure.
First successful gliding flights are being performed.
Ships grow larger and are thus promoting international trading.
The introduction of different forms of permanently available light, especially for industrial use,
is changing the rhythm of life.
In the course of industrialization, the river has become quite polluted.
Polish freedom fighters are migrating into town.
They are symbolizing the uprising of the European lower and middle-class against absolute powers.
Their efforts often fail in bloody riots.
At the command of the ruler, soldiers shoot rebels at the place of execution.
There's a first workshop and a factory.
Workers are increasingly replaced by machines - manpower becomes very cheap.
Agricultural life is being ousted more and more;
Factory owners are the new entrepreneurs.
Still, there are not many independent, free peasants.
The peasant's attempt to deliver themselves
from their personal duties
to their lord remains uncompleted.
Many peasants are still subservient by heritage; some are working at home, or become workers in factories.
There are rebellions, against the excesses in the course of the industrialization, e.g. the riot of the weavers.
These uprisings are directed against dumping prices
peasants receive for their hand made products.
All components of a product are being controlled by the same tradesmen and manufacturers:
the sale of yarns and weaving looms to weaver families,
just as much as the purchase of the woven cloth.
The result is an increasing poverty, especially in populations living in underdeveloped areas.
At the same time, dumping wages stand symbolic for spreading alcohol problems.
The abandonment of a child in front of the church's door shows the deep social distress of the people.
There are no agencies representing worker's concerns, yet.
The factory owner lives in his mansion next to the factory, separated from the working class neighborhood.
If he cares for his workers at all, then rather as a father figure towards his legally incompetent children;
social engagement: yes,
employee participation or equality as a political person: no!