Concerns over poverty Flashcards
Introduction
Some historians argue that concerns over poverty arising from the reports of Booth and Rowntree were more important to the passing of the Liberal Reforms
Knowledge 1
In 1900, Charles Booth published a survey on poverty in London revealing 30% of the urban population lived below the ‘poverty line’, with insufficient income for bare essentials. Seebholm Rowntree’s survaey revealed similar findings as around 30% of York’s population lived in poverty.
Analysis 1
These findings were crucial to the passing of the Liberal Reforms as it proved there were far more people living in poverty than assumed and, in return, New Liberalism gained support from Churchill and Lloyd George believing that the government should intervene.
Knowledge 2
Moreover, Booth and Rowntree also revealed that poverty was caused by low wages, unemployment, old age, and illness. The young also suffered due to their parents’ poverty.
Analysis 2
This was vital to the passing of the Liberal Reforms because it was now clear to the government, what groups they had to focus on. the old, the young, the sick, the unemployed, and even the employed.
Counter Analysis
However, these reports had limited power as rural areas were completely ignored, and their focus was only on the urban, inner city areas.
Evaluation
clearly, Booth and Rowntrees findings were crucial to the passing of Liberal Reforms as they influenced the way people thought (including the New Liberals). As Morrison & Morrison argue the reforms were moving in line with a change in public opinion as a result of their findings.
