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The original formulation of the statement of “work hard and you’ll make it” was created in the context of 17th-19th c. Europe, where no matter how hard you work
by thechao 6y ago
The original formulation of the statement of “work hard and you’ll make it” was created in the context of 17th-19th c. Europe, where no matter how hard you worked, if you weren’t landed gentry, you simply could not make it. The idea was that any opportunity existed. The universalist position you described is a rosy reimagining of a history that never was.
- folkhack 6y agoThis is super interesting to me and I would actually love to learn the origins of this... do you have any resources you may be able link? Books, articles etc.
- neskiredk 6y agoPrecisely, My ancestors left Denmark and Sweden. Hundreds of thousands left doing the later period of the 19th century. Mainly because how the land was distributed and taxed in such a way that you could never get ahead.