The Professional Middle Class
Wealthy factory owners were not necessarily educated men, but they needed educated men to train workers to use technology and manage their money. The Industrial Revolution had created work for scientists, engineers, technicians, and instructors. The high numbers of immigrants settling into cities created increased opportunities for lawyers, doctors, and dentists. These professions required training. Some immigrant groups brought values from their home countries that placed them in the position to advance economically. Professionals were paid a higher wage. They became a distinct group commonly called the middle class. They began to establish professional associations that set standards for their profession.
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| American Medical Association Seal |
Special schools within universities were established for students to learn medicine, business, and law. The requirements for certain professions became restrictive to keep safety standards high. In 1901, the American Medical Association (AMA) was reorganized. AMA officials fought for state licensing of doctors. States had established bar associations and central examination boards to regulate admission to the legal profession.
Manufacturers organized the National Association of Manufacturing in 1895. While many of the new professional organizations served to protect the profession from those who were not trained, others were used to exclude blacks, immigrants, and women. Women went into certain professions that boosted them to the ranks of the middle class. Most became nurses, teachers, social workers, and librarians; but some did become doctors, lawyers, engineers, or scientists. They joined organizations that gave the stamp of approval to their professional status.