By what means did the middle classes differentiate themselves and create a self-identity? What ...

The middle classes differentiated themselves from the lower classes specifically by many physical characteristics: styles of dress, soft hands, and their accents. Most found themselves delineated by cultural values, however, including a work ethic, emphasis on financial independence, and identification by profession. The increased social mobility provided by the opportunities of industrialization, as well as the liberal emphasis on self-determination and individualism, allowed many to become self-made in terms of accruing financial stability. Financial stability contributed to a sense of class because middle-class members felt they had reached their level of status through achievement rather than through privilege of birth. To further this sense of achievement and ability, most middle-class men made sure their sons, and increasingly their daughters, received a quality education so that they might aspire to some kind of profession or better life situation. The growth of universities was not simply a feature of the English middle classes, but was seen throughout Europe, as with the examples of Berlin's Bauakademie and Gewerbeakademie. These institutions placed an emphasis on practical education. A significant difference is that the universities founded in Germany tended to be state-sponsored rather than privately funded, like the university found in London. Samuel Smiles's Self-Help set the tone for middle-class goals by emphasizing the values of thrift, hard work, sobriety, self-denial, good habits, and the ability to learn from mistakes.