Libiral Reforms Flashcards
What did Charles booth do?
He published “life and labour of the people of London” in 1903. This said that 30% of people were in servere poverty. He said it was impossible for some to find work and that wages where so low a family couldn’t be supported.
What did Rowntree say about poverty?
He had a factory in York and didn’t think that conditions where that bad. He found 28% of people in York couldn’t, afford basic and food and housing.
The causes of poverty were:
Illness or low wages (22%)
Large family (52%)
Death of wage earner (10%)
He wrote about this in “poverty: a study of town life” it was published 1901.
How did public opinion towards the poor change?
Many a respected writer like H G Wells described the poor living conditions and said the government should try and help them.
The newly formed Labour Party was in favour of reform.
People involved in public health and medicine said the government should get more involved with public health.
Explain the school meals act.
In 1906 it allowed local education authorities to serve free school meals to poor children. However only half of authorities did though.
In 1914 14 million meals were served to 150,000 children everyday. By 1914 it was made compulsory. paid for by the local government.
What happened with children in 1907 and 1920
Every local authority set up medical services with school doctors and nurses. It was free. First it was medical checks but in 1920 it extended to treatment from clinics.
Until 1912, it had to be paid for by the parents.
When was the children’s charter put in place and what did it do?
1908.
Children’s lives were being insured and then they disappeared. The act meant children’s lives couldn’t be insured.
Parents could be prosecuted for neglecting children.
It set up borstals and courts to try and house young offenders. They went to juvenile courts.(under 14)
It was illegal for children to be made to beg, buy cigarettes or go into a pub.(if you were under 14)
Poor law authorities were responsible for visiting and supervising children who has suffered cruelty or neglect. They inspected orphanages.
Before old age pensions, what did old people have to do?
Go and work in the work house and depend on poor relief.
When was the old age pension introduced and what did it do?
1908
Over 70s got 5 shillings a week.
A married couple got 7s 5d.
Those with an income of over £21 a year got less and those over £35 got nothing.
In 1908 £ 120000000 was set aside for it by the government.
Those who was lazy during their life got nothing and many didn’t live to 70. You had to be a British citizen for 20 years.
Very popular.
What was the result of the old age pension?
In the first year 650,000 claimed.
It meant people were more in dependant.
The number claiming port relief fell by 80,000.
Lloyd George said “we are lifting the shadow of the workhouse from the homes of the poor.
However labour said 5s was too little but it was meant to help the poorest.
When were labour exchanges put in place and what did their do?
1909
Sign up and if you were unemployed you were told about available jobs.
In 1913 3,000 people where put into work every day by the 430 exchanges.
However, it didn’t make jobs and many were tempory.
Explain the workman’s compensation act.
1906
Employers had to pay workers compensation for injuries and diseases if they got them at work.
6 million people now had some legal protection.
Explain part one of the national insurance act.
1911
It helped with health insurance.
It covered those earning less than £160 a year. They had to join.
Each week the worker payed 4d, the employer 3d and the government 2d into a central fund.
If a worker was ill for more than four days, they got 10s a week for 13 weeks. Then 5s a week for a further 13 weeks.
Women got 7s 6d as they made less but they got a one off maternity grant of 30 shillings.
Those on the scheme would also get free medical treatment.
What was the response to part one of the national insurance act?
10 million workers had health insurance.
“Workers are getting nine pence for four pence.” Lloyd George.
Conservatives said people should chose how they spend their wages and socialists said the rich should be taxed to pay it.
Explain part two of the national security act.
- Unemployment benefit.
Helped those working in shipbuilding, iron founding and construction where workers could be out of Work for weeks on end.
Employers, workers and the government payed 2.5d a week.
After the second week of unemployment, a worker for 7s 6d a week. This would be for up to 15 weeks.
What was the trade board act?
1909
Pushed by Churchill and William Beveridge
It helped sweated industry’s- tailoring, box and lace making. It was often done by women who worked at home for very little.
A trade board was set up for each sweated industry.
The board decided a minimum wage and employers could be fined if they didn’t follow it.
By 1914 2 million had a minimum wage.
