3.3

Question 1

Under the Elizabeeth in Poor law how was poor relief administered

Answer 1

On a parish-based system

Question 2

Give three advantages to a parish-based system

Answer 2

It’s easier to distinguish between the deserving of the undeserving poor. You’re more likely to help those you know. Local needs are addressed more appropriately.

Question 3

What are three disadvantages of a parish-based system

Answer 3

People might set rates low to avoid paying higher rates. Personal grudges could get in the way of administering relief. There is a lack of national consistency.

Question 4

When was the settlement act and what did it state

Answer 4

1662 and it stated that legal settlement was by birth marriage apprenticeship or inheritance and that was the parish that was responsible for poor relief.

Question 5

What did the 1795 removal act state

Answer 5

Strangers could be barred from entering the parish if they applied for relief andThat wasn’t the parish under the settlement act.

Question 6

Why was outdoor relief used

Answer 6

In times of illness or cyclical unemployment families needed urgent short-term relief therefore outdoor relief was given

Question 7

What was the Speenhamland system

Answer 7

This system is subsidised wages using the relationship between the price of bread and the number of dependents and the family

Question 8

What was the roundsman system

Answer 8

Able-bodied pauper labourers were sent in rotation to local farmers who would provide them with Work that either genuinely needed doing or if it had been invented for the purpose. Roundsman wages were paid partly by the farmer and partly by the parish.

Question 9

What was the labour rate

Answer 9

This involves an agreement between parishes to establish a labour rate. Ratepayers who employed paupers either paid this rate or made up the difference by paying the parish

Question 10

Under the Elizabeeth Poor law where were the important poor sent

Answer 10

Poorhouses

Question 11

Under the Elizabeeth in Poor law where were the able-bodied poor sent

Answer 11

Sent to work in a workhouse while they continue to live at home

Question 12

Under the Elizabeeth in Poor law where were those who refused to work and continued a life of begging sent

Answer 12

House of correction

Question 13

Under the Elizabeeth in Poor law what happened to pauper children

Answer 13

They were to be apprenticed to a trade

Question 14

When was the Gilberts act

Answer 14

1782

Question 15

In the late 1700s why was there genuine fear that there would be a considerable increase in people seeking relief and that the parishes would not cope

Answer 15

The end of the American War of Independence meant there were more demobilised soldiers in the labour market. Enclosure of the great open fields. Early stages of industrialisation.

Question 16

What did the Gilberts act state

Answer 16

Parishes could combine to form guild unions and build a workhouse. In these Gilbert unions overseas were to be replaced by paid guardians.

Question 17

Why was the act not compulsory

Answer 17

Because it was a permissive act

Question 18

When will the Sturges-bourne acts?

Answer 18

1818 and 1819

Question 19

What did the sturges-bourne acts state?

Answer 19

Each parish where to select Vestry is that we are responsible for the local administration of the polos. The second act instructed how these were to be voted in which the richer you were the more votes you had

Question 20

What were the three main financial pressures for change in the year 1780 to 1834

Answer 20

Impact of wars with France. Impacts of agricultural unrest, the swing riots. Impact of increasing cost of the poor laws.

Question 21

How did the good harvests of 1813 and 1814 along with the ending of the wars with France increase those claiming poor relief

Answer 21

Due to the harvests being good in Britain in Europe cheap foreign Corn could easily be imported thus forcing English farmers to keep prices low. Along with wartime taxes this left many bankrupt, forcing them to claim poor relief

Question 22

What was the 1815 corn laws and what was their consequence

Answer 22

This act didn’t allow the import of foreign corn however this meant that the red prices were now too high. Riots broke out in rural areas of Britain, and systems pegging relief to the price of bread struggle to keep up. This distress was worsened by returning soldiers from the war

Question 23

During the crisis of 1817 to 1819 what did expenditure and poor relief reach

Answer 23

£8 million a year

Question 24

What was the reason for the swing riots

Answer 24

Labourers were protesting for higher wages and the removal of steam powered machines that deprive them of winter employment.

Question 25

Give an example of a swing riot

Answer 25

To villages in Hampshire combined and the labour is protested and pulled down a workhouse As well as breaking many of the machines

Question 26

Why were they called the swing riots and why did government fear revolution

Answer 26

Many of the petitions and threats were signed Captain swing giving the impression that this was an organised revolt. Therefore as revolution in Europe has just taken place the government were concerned

Question 27

How were the swing rioters dealt with and did they achieve anything

Answer 27

They were dealt with harshly but they did create a political climate in which reform was becoming more likely

Question 28

What was expenditure on poor relief by 1833

Answer 28

6 million

Question 29

What was increasing the cost of poor relief

Answer 29

The mobility of the population meant certain parishes couldn’t keep up with costs

Question 30

Where are the three main examples of regional differences when considering pressures for change in the early 1800s

Answer 30

Nottinghamshire Gloucestershire and Cookham Berkshire

Question 31

What was different about Nottinghamshire and who was responsible for this

Answer 31

Reverend Becker was the driving force behind the amalgamation in 1823 of 49 parishes. They had two deterrent workhouses and he was a strong believer that outdoor relief should be abolished.

Question 32

What was happening in Gloucestershire

Answer 32

Lloyd Baker began reforming Poor law administration by abolishing outdoor relief and making the workhouses so bad only the destitute would seek admission. He reduced the amount of poppers from 900 to 100

Question 33

How did Reverend Thomas in Cookham reduce pauper seeking relief

Answer 33

He offered abled body relief seekers work at a lower rate that was usually paid by the parish meaning many long-term recipients immediately left the parish

Question 34

What was Thomas Malthus’ argument and why

Answer 34

He favoured the abolition of the poor laws meaning families had to stay small and therefore able to support themselves

Question 35

What was David Ricardos argument and why

Answer 35

Ricardo also believed Poor laws should be abolished because he believed there was a pot of money from which both wages and poor relief was paid therefore as people claimed poor relief wages went down. If polos were to be abolished, then wages would increase and poverty decrease.

Question 36

What was Thomas pains argument

Answer 36

He proposed a property tax on the very rich to be used for a variety of support systems. He also had a problem with the able-bodied poor and believed they should go into the Work house before receiving relief

Question 37

What was Robert Owens argument and how did he put this into place

Answer 37

He was a radical factory owner who blamed the capitalist economic system for creating poverty. At his site he created a safe community where workers were treated fairly and educated, Corporal punishment was also forbidden. This motivated his workers therefore he received increased profits.

Question 38

What is utilitarianism

Answer 38

A theory that society should be organised so as to secure the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people

Question 39

Who developed the philosophy of utilitarianism

Answer 39

Jeremy Bentham

Question 40

In regards to paupers what did Bentham believe

Answer 40

He believed in the centralisation of the Paula administration. He thought all outdoor relief should be abolished and relief only given to those prepared to enter workhouse. He didn’t believe in the discrimination between deserving and undeserving poor only the destitute