3.6

Question 1

Why did Charles booth begin his investigations

Answer 1

Because he wanted to explore the idea that there might be structural explanations for poverty not just moral ones

Question 2

Where did Charles booth investigations take place and for how long

Answer 2

They all took place in London and they took 17 years

Question 3

What was booths main findings

Answer 3

He divided the population into classes, although he did it the knowledge that these classes over that. Each class covered a different section of society, the work pattern and ability/inability to pull themselves out of poverty

Question 4

What did booth identify as a main reason for poverty

Answer 4

The irregularity of work for many

Question 5

Who did the most strident criticism come from of booths findings

Answer 5

Helen bosanquet of the COS

Question 6

What about and why did Helen bosanquet criticise booths findings

Answer 6

She objected to the social survey methods developed by booth because it had no underpinning philosophy. She also believes his poverty line was flawed because she disputed the fact in which it was based. She also claimed he underestimated the income level of poor families.

Question 7

Why was booth himself critical of his work

Answer 7

He openly admitted that he relied on observation only and therefore did not take income into account when defining poverty

Question 8

How many surveys did Rowntree conduct and where did these all take place

Answer 8

He conducted three surveys in York

Question 9

When was Rowntrees first survey carried out and when was it published

Answer 9

It was carried out in 1899 and published in 1901

Question 10

Who did Rowntree focus on and how many people did he obtain information from

Answer 10

He focused on the working-class families and obtained information from 46,000 people, this made up 2/3 of the city

Question 11

What was Rowntree hoping to do

Answer 11

He wanted to find out both the numbers of people living in poverty and the nature of that poverty, and building booth work by giving more precision to booths idea of a poverty line

Question 12

What percentage of the population in York did Rowntree find we are living obvious need and squalor

Answer 12

28%

Question 13

How many people did Roundtree say were living below the poverty line And what did this mean

Answer 13

10% live below the poverty line in primary poverty meaning they could not make ends meet

Question 14

How many people did Rowntree say were living in secondary poverty and what does this mean

Answer 14

Rowntree found that 18% were living in secondary poverty meaning they had enough for the bear necessities but without any leeway for emergencies

Question 15

Other than the numbers living in primary and secondary poverty what else was significant about Roundtrees enquiries

Answer 15

He uncovered the cycle of poverty, explaining that a person was likely to be plunged into poverty at different stages of their life due to circumstances

Question 16

Who immediately attacked Roundtrees findings in the same way as she attacked booths

Answer 16

Helen bosanquet of the cos

Question 17

What was Helen bosanquets biggest criticism of Roundtree’s work

Answer 17

She claimed he had overestimated by setting the poverty level too high

Question 18

When and where was the Fabian Society founded

Answer 18

London 1884

Question 19

What was the main objective of the Fabian Society

Answer 19

Advancing the principles of socialism in a gradual nonconfrontational way

Question 20

In the early days of the society what did they do to attract attention

Answer 20

How to public meetings, publish numerous pamphlets and lobbied politicians on a wide range of topics

Question 21

Who are the two key members of the Fabian Society

Answer 21

Sydney and Beatrice Webb

Question 22

What did the first Fabian Society pamphlets aim to promote

Answer 22

They aim to promote social justice and were generally more radical in their policies than the early 20th century reforms of the liberal government would suggest. They lobbied for an introduction of a minimum wage and a universal health service

Question 23

Why did the Fabian Society openly support the boer war

Answer 23

They believed small nations had no place in the world of empires

Question 24

How did the boer war encourage the Fabian Society to advocate the formation of citizens army

Answer 24

They were shocked at the poor physical state of the recruits to the army and therefore advocated for the formation of a citizens army which will be fit and healthy if the Fabians request for universal health service were to be granted

Question 25

In 1900 Fabians were active in the formation of what

Answer 25

The Labour representative committee which six years later won 26 and seats in the election

Question 26

When was the second boer war

Answer 26

1899 to 1902

Question 27

Why did the findings of the recruitment boards seem to confirm the investigations of booth and Rowntree

Answer 27

Because this was not a conscript war men volunteered in their thousands and were rejected due to poor physical health. 27% of volunteers in York Leeds and Sheffield were rejected for being unfit

Question 28

Why were the government concerned about the findings of the recruitment boards of the boer war

Answer 28

The British government concerned that an unfit army were unable to defend the Empire. They were also concerned because they had been the leading industrial nation previously but now Germany and the USA were taking over and they were worried about labour productivity

Question 29

What was set up to investigate claims that the health of the nation was deteriorating after the boer war

Answer 29

The intradepartmental committee on physical deterioration 1903 to 1904

Question 30

What did the interdepartmental Committee on physical deterioration find

Answer 30

It found that phase of national deterioration were unfounded however the committee found large sections of the urban population were being undermined by poverty

Question 31

What did the intradepartmental committee on physical deterioration suggest to try and tackle these issues

Answer 31

The committee made 53 recommendations that were focused on changing public health administration and improving the standard of public health

Question 32

What fuel the debate on national efficiency

Answer 32

The work of both booth and Rowntree coupled with the revelations about the physical health of the army.

Question 33

How was the debate on national efficiency later used

Answer 33

Many used it as an argument for social reforms

Question 34

In 1905 what was set up by the Conservative government to enquire into the workings of the poor laws

Answer 34

Royal commission

Question 35

How many members of the royal commission were there and who was included

Answer 35

There were 20 members including members of the C.O.S., members of the local government board, Poor law guardians and social reformers such as Charles booth and the Webb’s

Question 36

How many Poor Law Unions and institutions did the royal commission visit

Answer 36

They visited 200 Poor Law Unions and 400 institutions

Question 37

What was significant about the work they produced

Answer 37

Altogether they could not agree and 1909 they produce two separate reports

Question 38

What were the main points of the majority report

Answer 38

The origins of poverty were basically moral. The poor laws should stay as the main vehicle for dealing with poverty. Board of guardians allowed to much relief and they should be replaced by public assistance committees. General mixed workhouses did not to the able-bodied poor. There should be greater corporation with the C.O.S.

Question 39

What were the main points of the minority report

Answer 39

The origins of poverty were basically economic. A Ministry of labour should be set up which would introduce an overseas public works schemes set up a string of national labour exchanges and organise Training schemes. The polar administration should be split up into different committees to deal with things like education and health

Question 40

What similarities did the majority and minority report have

Answer 40

They both criticise the failure of central government to ensure that local board of guardians behaved in a uniform way. Both condemned general mixed workhouses. Both condemned wasteful overlapping of services provided by the Poor law guardians and the local government board

Question 41

What was the problem with producing two reports

Answer 41

The government did not feel compelled to act on either

Question 42

When was the liberal government elected And how did they avoid the question of whether or not to reform the poor laws

Answer 42

They were elected in 1906 and built new institutions that were completely separate

Question 43

When and why did the idea of providing old-age pensions first come about

Answer 43

In 1870 due to the failure of friendly societies to provide for a wider group than just the prosperous working class

Question 44

When was the old age pensions act

Answer 44

1909

Question 45

What were the main five points of the act

Answer 45

Pensions were non-contributory and were funded from taxes. Pensions were paid to men and women over the age of 70. Full pensions were paid only to those with income is below a certain point. He had to be a British citizen. You are not eligible if you would continually failed to find work.

Question 46

How many people claimed pensions

Answer 46

600,000

Question 47

Why did the old age pensions act not decrease the amount of elderly in the workhouse

Answer 47

As those in the workhouse were still too frail to care for themselves

Question 48

Why did the labour exchanges act come about

Answer 48

Because by the beginning of the 20th century people starting to accept that there was bound to be times where people could not find work

Question 49

When was the labour exchanges act

Answer 49

1909

Question 50

What did the labour exchanges act do

Answer 50

Set up a series of labour exchanges that were intended to help the unemployed find any work that was available

Question 51

By 1914 how many labour exchanges were there

Answer 51

450

Question 52

When was the trade boards act

Answer 52

1909

Question 53

What did the trade boards act do

Answer 53

It provided for the creation of boards in specific sweated trades, that could negotiate for, and set, legally in forcible minimum wage criteria

Question 54

Although not always used why was the trade boards act so important

Answer 54

Because it’s set the precedent that wages were no longer arrived at by a private agreement between employer and employee

Question 55

When was the national insurance act

Answer 55

1911

Question 56

Why was it initially difficult to pass the national insurance act

Answer 56

Because within Britain there was already a wide range of institutions and organisations providing support, however many families struggle to keep up with these payments and therefore we are not insured against illness

Question 57

What did part one of the national insurance act tackle

Answer 57

Illness

Question 58

What was the main terms of part one of the national insurance act

Answer 58

The scheme applied to all workers aged 16 to 60 earning less than £160 a year. Employees contributed 4d, employers 3d and the state 2d each week. Payments were to be made to approve societies. Maternity care was provided. Free treatment was given by a medical practitioner and all drugs were free

Question 59

What did part two of the national insurance act tackle

Answer 59

Unemployment

Question 60

What are the main terms of part two of the national insurance act

Answer 60

Employers employees and the state each contributed 2&1/2 d.
Workers could claim unemployment benefit of 7S a week for 15 weeks a year. No claim can be made if unemployment resulted from misconduct

Question 61

By 1913 how many workers were part of the national insurance scheme

Answer 61

13 million