Poor Law - Explain why the Poor Law Amendment Act (1834) was passed - Explain why the 'old' poor law system was reformed in 1834

Question 1

Economic

Answer 1

• Enthusiasm for obtaining value for money and making system as efficiency as possible
• Improve efficiency
• Speenhamland system - poor rate had doubled 1795-1834

Question 2

Social

Answer 2

• Based on a pre-industrial society e.g. established during the Elizabethan period (1597-8 and 1601)
• Escalating cost of system and abuse of system by those who were not destitute
• Population increase, labour mobility and price movements
• Swing Riots focused attention on effectiveness of the poor law and desire to avoid a repeat of the Swing Riots

Question 3

Political

Answer 3

• Edwin Chadwick influenced by individualism and utilitarianism
• Enthusiasm for obtaining value for money and making system as efficient as possible
• Royal Commission set up to examine the Poor Law system

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

System was out of date and desire to gain greater efficiency