Chapter Twenty-One Flashcards
What pressure was there on the Government to introduce social reform from the 1850s?
From Social philanthropists and voluntary groups, who campaigned for changes in conditions of the workplaces e.g factories and coal mines, improvements in application of the poor law, national system of education, relief of the destitute, mentally ill, orphan children, for better housing conditions and for health provision.
What was the situation regarding Antony Ashley Cooper (Lord Shaftesbury)?
Continued social improvement reforms. Ten Hour Act regulating hours in factories was passed 1847 but manufacturers found a loophole so he campaigned until the 1850 Factory Act wherein there was a limit in hours in which a factory could remain open.
Pressed government to set up the Children’s Employment Commission, to extend legislation regulating conditions of child labour to all workshops, however small. The 1864 Act was extended in 1871 to include brickfields.
Chimney Sweepers Act 1875
To ban the practice of sending young boys to clean chimneys. Shaftesbury’s action.
What did Edwin Chadwick and Lord Shaftesbury do?
Persuaded Russell’s government to set up a Board of Health as part of the 1848 Public Health reform.
What did the Victorian people believe regarding Charitable activity?
Charitable activity for the poor was popular among the Victorian middle classes- it eased consciences and perpetuated ideas of self-help. Although, fears of ‘excessive kindness’ led to the formation of the Charity Organisation Society in 1869 to provide help only to the ‘deserving’ after full investigation of their needs, and then to set them up to help themselves.
What issues of public health were there due to Urbanisation?
Problems in the provision of basic amenities: a constant supply of pure water, proper drainage and sanitation and clean, well-lit streets. Multiple health problems, frequent outbreaks of disease and unacceptably high death rates were the result of dirty conditions.
What action did Edwin Chadwick take?
Name is synonymous with public health reform. Highlighted the problems of disease and poor living conditions in his Report on the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population of Great Britain 1842 which led to the 1848 Public Helath Act
Argument was economic- fewer people would need poor relief because they could work and thus it was sensible to spend money on improving public health.
How did Chadwick’s argument gain support?
Due to an outbreak of cholera.
The 1848 Public Health Act set up a General Health Board in London with three members, Chadwick, Shaftesbury and Lord Morpeth and Local Boards of Health, each run by a medical officer, in areas where the death rate was above national average.
What happened when the Cholera epidemic was over?
People disliked state interference in their personal lives. Chadwick was dismissed from the Health Board in 1854 and the Board was dissolved in 1858. Function was given to the Home Office and Dr John Simon was appointed Medical Officer of Health.
What action did Medical Officer of Health Dr John Simon take?
Oversaw piecemeal improvements but a strong statutory centralised body was required to tackle the endemic problems in poorer urban areas. In spite of the introduction of registration of doctors and passing of a Food Adulteration Act, problems caused by poor sanitation and lack of fresh water supplies continued. No proper central administrative structure and most local authorities were left wanting.
What happpened regarding Public Health reform in 1871?
The Royal Commission on sanitary matters recommended that the fragmentary and confused Sanitary Law should be made uniform and so the Local Government Board was set up.
What happened with the Chartists in 1847?
Revitalised their campaign due to the economic depression in 1847. Third Chartist petition was organised, O’Connor drew up a constitution for a British Republic with himself as President. Mass meeting arranged on Kennington Common in London. Real alarm in government and troops were deployed- movement fell away and few representatives from Chartists went to Pariament to display petition with 6 million signatures.
What was a drawback of the Chartist movement?
The episodic nature due to the intermittent apathy of the working classes. Majority were illiterate and unable to organise themselves effectively. Divisions amongst the leading Chartists did nothing to promote unity and any violence frightened away any potential middle class supporters who could have helped funding. Lack of funds made it impossible for Chartists to make use of latest means of communication- railways and penny post. Other better organised pressure groups drew away Chartist support.
What happened by 1873?
Working class section had been enfranchised, qualification to stand as MP had been removed and Liberal government had passed Secret Ballot Act meaning thaat three of the six original Chartist demands had been achieved but due to the natural democratic progress in Industrialised Britain.
What was the situation in Britain 1866-67?
There was a break in economic prosperity, which became the main catalyst for the success of Radical pressures on the government to introduce reform, which culminated into the passage of the Second Reform Act through Parliament in 1867.
Wc were feeling effect of bad harvest, outbreak of disease in cattle, and financial crisis in the city.
