Document 3: An excerpt from Henry George, Progress and Poverty 1879 Henry George was an economist, land reformer, and writer. George edited the San Francisco
Chronicle and in 1871 founded the San Francisco Daily Evening Post. He detailed his economic
theories in the book Progress and Poverty (1879). This famous work of social protest was widely
read and inspired the creation of many "Henry George Societies" - organizations that promoted
George's economic views
It is true that wealth has been greatly increased and that the average of comfort, leisure,
and refinement has been raised; but these gains are not general. In them the lowest classes
do not share. ... The new forces [of progress] ... do not act upon the society from
underneath ... but strike it at point intermediate between top and bottom. If was as though
an immense wedge were being forced, not underneath society but through society. Those
who are above the point of separation are elevated, but those who are below are crushed
down.

Question: Henry George describes industrialization as a "wedge." What effect did he
believe industrialization was having on society?