1848 - 1910
The castle is used as a university, which reflects the importance of education for all citizens a. A middle-class society has developed; old social barriers become more and more permeable and occupational barriers are falling. People live with high hopes for freedom and democracy.
The "long" 19th Century
Politics
Until the end of the 19th century, still, the right to study is reserved to men almost exclusively. The students’ life is being cultivated in fraternities.
However, it’s also an era of radical political conflicts. The liberal middle class and its students are influenced by England, and are opposing the conservative nationalists and the later German Emperor Wilhelm II.
There’s a demonstration on the town greens demanding liberty and democracy. It ends violently under the force of the police and the military.
Synagogue
Within the town’s society, the Jewish are emancipating more and more, which becomes apparent with the construction of a synagogue. However, they do not achieve true social equality.
Industrialization
Parallel to the changes in social currents, there’s the rapid industrialization, and agriculture is disappearing virtually altogether. The gap between the poor and the rich is obvious. Laborers are starting to organize themselves and dare to revolt despite of restrictions like, for example, censorship and the prohibition of “Workers’ Newspapers”.
Hygiene
There’s an obvious improvement in the hygienic conditions, resulting in a better protection of the popularity from epidemics. The laying of canalization facilitates the populations’ water supply and disposal.
Mobility
There’s also a noticeable boom in mobility matters. The first bicycle is being developed, as well as the first horse-pulled street car.
Railway
With larger and more powerful engines, traction mode becomes more and more efficient, and can utilize bridges built from steal, nowadays.
