The Making of the English Working Class

"The Making of the English Working Class" is a pivotal work by historian E.P. Thompson, published in 1963. It explores the social and cultural development of the English working class during the Industrial Revolution, focusing on how ordinary people formed their identity and community in response to industrialization and social change. Thompson argues that the working class was not just a passive victim of economic forces but an active agent in shaping its own history, emphasizing collective action, political movements, and the importance of class consciousness in the fight for rights and recognition.