He considers the steam engine to be the 19th century's most defining emblem and examines its abrupt appearance. According to Wells, the pace of land movement will fundamentally alter human culture. According to Wells, there will be four social strata created by technology in the 20th century. He says that families in this class will live in well-run homes without a need for housekeepers. Jonathan H.B. Wells contends in Democracy and Other Essays on Statecraft that the term "democracy" is vague and just refers to the denial of a certain person or individuals' ability to act on behalf of the population at large. The growing range and precision of the rifle and field gun establish the "new battle." Wells predicts that war will become less "dramatic" and more "monstrous." He expects that by the year 2000, many multilingual societies would speak languages like Spanish and Russian as a second language. Wells believes that due to the interconnectedness of the economy, culture, and politics, "a New Republic" would eventually rule the world. He discussed the future of society and how authorities will utilize science to "euthanize the weak and the sensual" in Anticipations.