Chapter 3 Flashcards
Social Issues
What did the upper classes consist of in 1906?
Wealthy landowners, aristocracy and the newly wealthy who had gained wealth through industry and commerce (including owners of factories)
What did the middle classes consist of in 1906?
About a quarter of the population and could be between factory owners and merchants or professionals such as doctors, lawyers and teachers
What did the lower middle class consist of in 1906?
Non-manual employees such as shop assistants, clerks, shopeppers and self-employed artisans and were often poorer than skilled workmen
What did the working class consist of in 1906?
75% of the population, consisting of unskilled and skilled workers. In 1911, 28.7% were skilled, 34.4% were semi-skilled and 9.6 were unskilled
What was Booth’s overall conclusion in his estimates of poverty?
He claimed that 30.7 percent lived below the poverty line (rather than the government’s estimate of 25%) and were unable to afford shelter, food or clothing.
How did Rowntree build on the work of Booth?
Rowntree carried out a study that found 28% of people in York were living in poverty, proving it to be a national problem
What factors did Booth and Rowntree identify as part of poverty?
Unemployment, low wages, irregular work, old age, sickness, premature death, lack of education and poor diet
How much were the liberal social reforms going to cost in 1908/08?
£16 million
What taxes did Lloyd George introduce as part of his ‘People’s Budget’?
Progressive taxation, a super tax on incomes surpassing £5000, a tax on cars according to horsepower, an inheritance tax and a tax on profits
Why were there virtually no state provisions at the beginning of the century?
The prevailing belief in ‘laissez-faire’
What social reforms were introduced to benefit children?
The 1906 Education Act (provision of meals) and the 1907 Education Act (medical inspection) which meant that local authorities had to introduce quality of life checks for children in terms of health and food.
How successful were the reforms for children?
The provision of meals was permissive and only around half of the LEAs were providing free school meals by 1913 (14 million free school meals by 1914) In terms of medical, it merely provided a check and not treatment but three-quarters did provide this service
What social reforms were introduced to benefit the elderly?
The 1908 Old Age Pensions Act which provided a pension of five shillings a week for a single person and 7s and 6d for a married couple.
How successful were the reforms for the elderly?
There were around 1 million pensioners by 1915 and enabled those too ashamed to be labelled a pauper to receive monetary help. They were only paid to the elderly poor of ‘a good character’ and the money was minimal.
What social reforms were introduced to benefit the workers?
The 1909 Trade Boards which set up minimum wages and inspected conditions in certain trades, 1911 National Insurance Act which helped sick workers receive a living wage through contributory taxation
