3.4 Flashcards
How many people in the royal commission of enquiry and who were the two main commissioners
Nine main commissioners, Nassau senior and Edwin Chadwick.
What were the two ways in which the royal commission of enquiry collected data
First the commission Devised three different questionnaires, two were sent to parishes in rural areas and the 3rd to parishes in town. Around 10% replied and from this was an immense amount of information it was difficult to analyse. Therefore the second way was commissioners were sent out to talk to the poor and attend the vestry meetings.
How was the royal commission of enquiry flawed
The questions were skewed to elicit the answers they wanted, many of the interviews were similarly skewed as witnesses were lead among predetermined path’s.
What were the four main recommended changes from the Royal commission of enquiry
Separate workhouses should be provided for different categories. Parishes should group into unions for the purpose of providing these workhouses. All outdoor relief should stop and conditions in the workhouse follow the principle of less eligibility. A new central authority should be established with powers to make an informed regulations concerning the workhouse system.
What were the three aims of Poor law policy.
Reduce the cost of providing relief. Ensure only the destitute receive relief. Provide a national system of poor relief
When was the poor law amendment act
1834
What were the four main terms of the 1834 Poor law Amendment act
Central authority should be set up to supervise the implementation and regulate the administration of the poor law. Parishes were to be grouped together. Each union was to establish a workhouse in which would follow the principle of less eligibility. Outdoor relief should be discouraged but not abolished.
What powers did the three commissioners have in regards to the 1834 poor law Amendment act
The commission was independence of Parliament meaning it had no spokesman in parliament. Commissioners were almost universally hated. Commissioners had a powerful constitutional position because it be established by Parliament. Commission could issue directed your regulations and monitor their implementation could not force parishes. They did have a considerable amount of negative power is making life difficult for parishes who oppose them.
Who were the three commissioners
Thomas Franklin Lewis. George Nichols. John Shaw-lefevre
Who was secretary of the commission
Edwin Chadwick
What were the two priorities of the Poor law commission policy
The transfer of out of work and under employed workers in role areas to urban areas where employment was plentiful. The protection of urban ratepayers
When was the general outdoor relief prohibitory order
1844
What did the 1844 general outdoor relief prohibitory order do
Forbade outdoor Relief the able-bodied poor. However this was not effectively implemented.
What did Edwin Chadwick strongly believe in
Utilitarianism and the principle of less eligibility
Why was Edwin Chadwick disappointed to be made secretary of the commission
Because expected to be made one of the commissioners
What were the three aims of a workhouse to deter paupers
Monotonous routine. Strict discipline. Dehumanisation.
What were the two types of workhouse architecture
The Y shaped workhouse and the cruciform shaped workhouse
What was the Y shaped work house and how many was it made to accommodate
It was a Y shaped Workhouse inside a hexagonal boundary wall which held work rooms kitchen and dining rooms and dormitories. The masters rooms are in the middle where they could watch all three exercise yard it was intended for around 300 paupers.
What was the cruciform shaped workhouse and how many was it intended to hold
This was a crucifix shape workhouse two stories high in a square Boundry. The walls held workrooms and the cruciform shape divided the space into four exercise yards each arm of the cruciform how dormitory is a dining rooms it was intended for between 200 and 500 paupers
Who designed both workhouse architectures
Kempthorne
What was the principal behind Kempthornes designed
The division and segregation of paupers
What was the diet like for those inside the workhouse
The supply food was meant to just keep them alive and was also boring and often cold to make sure the principle of less eligibility was applied
What we are rules regulations and routine like in the workhouse
The routine was very boring and monotonous. Rules were harsh are meant to be followed. Every family was split up children were sent to the workhouse school that apprenticed to a trade. You were made to wear a workhouse uniform. All puppies were bathed once a week.
What work with a paupers made to do inside the workhouse
The work had to be within the workhouse Because it could not diminish work available outside the workhouse. for women it usually involved the maintenance of the workhouse. Men were made to do more physical work such as crushing bones or unknotting rope
What was discipline like in the workhouse
Whilst under the new system there were limits to punishment, purpose could still be punished almost anything. The master and the matron often very harsh on the paupers.
What was different about the treatment of pauper children in the workhouse
It was believed that children could not be held responsible for there situation.
What happened to pauper children on entry to Work house
They received a basic education until the age of nine when they were apprenticed to a trade. However they often became institutionalised and unable to cope on the outside. Children were not allowed to leave the workhouse and if they run away they were instantly returned.
Give three examples of rumours that circulated following the implementation of the poor law amendment act
Many believe that workhouses were extermination centres for paupers. In Devon many poor people believe the bread distributed as part of outdoor relief was poisoned in order to reduce those claiming relief. Rumours circulated that all children over and above the first three in a family where to be killed.
Why was the centralisation of the poor law amendment act attacked
Because it was a London based and had no real grasp on rural life and needs in the north
Why were rural ratepayers worried about the new poor law Amendment act
Because they realised outdoor relief was cheaper than in the relief was worried that a program of work housebuilding would lead to higher not lower poor rates
How do people in Buckinghamshire protest the implementation of the 1834 poor law amendment act
They took to the streets and poppers from the old workhouse were being transported to the new union workhouse. Only when the right act was red and armed Yeomanry put on the streets was it possible for the paupers to be transported.
How did people in east Anglia protest the implementation of the poor law amendment act
Newly built workhouses were attacked and damaged and relieving officers assaulted. The poor themselves took to the lanes and market squares and the more influential citizens use their positions to refuse the principle of less eligibility and continue to provide outdoor relief.
Why was it more difficult to implement the act in the north and why should the commission have listened to Edwin Chadwick?
Because in the north they had fitted release to cyclical unemployment. And Chadwick told them to implement the act while times were prosperous in the north however they waited until there was a trade depression making the implementation even harder
Give three examples of opposition in the north
Stockport 1842 the workhouse was attacked and bread distributed to the power instead. Armed rights in Oldham and Rochdale. In Todmorden the poor law amendment act could not be implemented until 1877.
What specific area of the poor law amendment act did Richard oastler oppose
He believed the commissioners were too powerful. Particularly their ability to supply factories with cheap labour as he believed this would lead to reduction in factory wages and a consequent deterioration of living conditions which would intern increase pauperism.
How did Richard oastler oppose the poor law amendment act?
He lead workers in violently resisting attempts to impose the new Poor Law in his local township of fixed fee. Urging workers to involve themselves in strikes and sabotage.
