3.6 Flashcards
Why did Charles booth begin his investigations
Because he wanted to explore the idea that there might be structural explanations for poverty not just moral ones
Where did Charles booth investigations take place and for how long
They all took place in London and they took 17 years
What was booths main findings
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
What did booth identify as a main reason for poverty
The irregularity of work for many
Who did the most strident criticism come from of booths findings
Helen bosanquet of the COS
What about and why did Helen bosanquet criticise booths findings
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.
Why was booth himself critical of his work
He openly admitted that he relied on observation only and therefore did not take income into account when defining poverty
How many surveys did Rowntree conduct and where did these all take place
He conducted three surveys in York
When was Rowntrees first survey carried out and when was it published
It was carried out in 1899 and published in 1901
Who did Rowntree focus on and how many people did he obtain information from
He focused on the working-class families and obtained information from 46,000 people, this made up 2/3 of the city
What was Rowntree hoping to do
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
What percentage of the population in York did Rowntree find we are living obvious need and squalor
28%
How many people did Roundtree say were living below the poverty line And what did this mean
10% live below the poverty line in primary poverty meaning they could not make ends meet
How many people did Rowntree say were living in secondary poverty and what does this mean
Rowntree found that 18% were living in secondary poverty meaning they had enough for the bear necessities but without any leeway for emergencies
Other than the numbers living in primary and secondary poverty what else was significant about Roundtrees enquiries
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
Who immediately attacked Roundtrees findings in the same way as she attacked booths
Helen bosanquet of the cos
What was Helen bosanquets biggest criticism of Roundtree’s work
She claimed he had overestimated by setting the poverty level too high
When and where was the Fabian Society founded
London 1884
What was the main objective of the Fabian Society
Advancing the principles of socialism in a gradual nonconfrontational way
In the early days of the society what did they do to attract attention
How to public meetings, publish numerous pamphlets and lobbied politicians on a wide range of topics
Who are the two key members of the Fabian Society
Sydney and Beatrice Webb
What did the first Fabian Society pamphlets aim to promote
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
Why did the Fabian Society openly support the boer war
They believed small nations had no place in the world of empires
How did the boer war encourage the Fabian Society to advocate the formation of citizens army
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
In 1900 Fabians were active in the formation of what
The Labour representative committee which six years later won 26 and seats in the election
When was the second boer war
1899 to 1902
Why did the findings of the recruitment boards seem to confirm the investigations of booth and Rowntree
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
Why were the government concerned about the findings of the recruitment boards of the boer war
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
What was set up to investigate claims that the health of the nation was deteriorating after the boer war
The intradepartmental committee on physical deterioration 1903 to 1904
What did the interdepartmental Committee on physical deterioration find
It found that phase of national deterioration were unfounded however the committee found large sections of the urban population were being undermined by poverty
What did the intradepartmental committee on physical deterioration suggest to try and tackle these issues
The committee made 53 recommendations that were focused on changing public health administration and improving the standard of public health
What fuel the debate on national efficiency
The work of both booth and Rowntree coupled with the revelations about the physical health of the army.
How was the debate on national efficiency later used
Many used it as an argument for social reforms
In 1905 what was set up by the Conservative government to enquire into the workings of the poor laws
Royal commission
How many members of the royal commission were there and who was included
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
How many Poor Law Unions and institutions did the royal commission visit
They visited 200 Poor Law Unions and 400 institutions
What was significant about the work they produced
Altogether they could not agree and 1909 they produce two separate reports
What were the main points of the majority report
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.
What were the main points of the minority report
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
What similarities did the majority and minority report have
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
What was the problem with producing two reports
The government did not feel compelled to act on either
When was the liberal government elected And how did they avoid the question of whether or not to reform the poor laws
They were elected in 1906 and built new institutions that were completely separate
When and why did the idea of providing old-age pensions first come about
In 1870 due to the failure of friendly societies to provide for a wider group than just the prosperous working class
When was the old age pensions act
1909
What were the main five points of the act
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.
How many people claimed pensions
600,000
Why did the old age pensions act not decrease the amount of elderly in the workhouse
As those in the workhouse were still too frail to care for themselves
Why did the labour exchanges act come about
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
When was the labour exchanges act
1909
What did the labour exchanges act do
Set up a series of labour exchanges that were intended to help the unemployed find any work that was available
By 1914 how many labour exchanges were there
450
When was the trade boards act
1909
What did the trade boards act do
It provided for the creation of boards in specific sweated trades, that could negotiate for, and set, legally in forcible minimum wage criteria
Although not always used why was the trade boards act so important
Because it’s set the precedent that wages were no longer arrived at by a private agreement between employer and employee
When was the national insurance act
1911
Why was it initially difficult to pass the national insurance act
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
What did part one of the national insurance act tackle
Illness
What was the main terms of part one of the national insurance act
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
What did part two of the national insurance act tackle
Unemployment
What are the main terms of part two of the national insurance act
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
By 1913 how many workers were part of the national insurance scheme
13 million
