Poverty Flashcards
Reasons for the PLAA
- Growth of Industrial Towns
- Failure of the Old Poor Laws
- Rising cost of Poor Relief
- Ideological Pressures
- Attitudes to Poverty
The first census was taken in 1801 what was the population?
9 million, more than double what it was when the Elizabethan Poor Law was established
(Growth of Industrial Towns)
In urban areas, what were the wages?
Usually very low, no more than 12 shillings a week
Growth of Industrial Towns
Between 1802 and 1803 what % of people in the North and South receive poor relief?
North = 10% South = 23%
(Growth of Industrial Towns)
During the periods of economic decline…
… more people relied on relief to cover outgoings for the more basic necessities of life such as food
(Growth of Industrial Towns)
What did the Knatchbulls act do and when was it?
1722, encouraged the building of workhouses and the withdrawal of relief from those who refused to join them. People who were physically unable to work would die!
(Failure of the Old Poor Laws)
Elizabethan Poor Law 1601 responsibility given to … in England and Wales for orphans, the old and sick. By 1776…
15,000 parishes
…there were 2000 poorhouses each with 20-50 inmates
An overseer would decide who deserved relief, can be seen as unfair
(Failure of the Old Poor Laws)
Speenhamland system
Subsidised labourers incomes depending on the price of bread and the number of children he had. System spread quickly and throughout the South, encouraged workers to have children, cheating the system and increasing tax because of it
(Failure of the Old Poor Laws)
The Royal Commission 1832 reported…
…that the current poor laws were inadequate in the effectiveness of provision and the excessive cost. Due to lack of national system
(Failure of the Old Poor Laws)
Total cost on poor relief rose from what when to what when?
£5.7m 1815 to £7.9m 1817
Rising Cost of Poor Relief
Problem with poor relief
Only increased with the growing population, 1801 9m more than double when Elizabethan Poor Law introduced in 1601
(Rising Cost of Poor Relief)
Decline in the cost?
The 1820s saw an improved economic situation and the amount spent on poor relief declined: 1824 cost per head 9s 2d compared to 11s 7d 1819-1823
(Rising Cost of Poor Relief)
What % of GDP did poor relief reach?
2% of GDP still large number of low-paid workers, still meant that poor relief was still high
(Rising Cost of Poor Relief)
Collectivism?
Promoted by Thomas Paine and Robert Owen, this was a belief that government should plan for the welfare of its people and give its people opportunities to improve themselves through education and good working conditions
(Ideological pressures)
Utilitarian?
Jeremy Bentham and Edwin Chadwick, this ideology suggested that human nature was motivated by 2 things only, pain and pleasure.
WORK HARDER TO GAIN REWARDS!!!
(Ideological Pressures)
Individualism?
Thomas Malthus and Joseph Townsend, this ideology criticised the Poor Law system as it encouraged idleness and believed that, if society were to change, the poor should be provided once again with a deterrent (hardship)
(Ideological Pressures)
By the end of the 18th century there emerged a more cynical attitude towards the poor…
…where some people were fatalistic and believed that there would always be poverty in society and that just had to be accepted
(Attitudes to Poverty)
The British society had inherited the dominant belief that poor was split in to two?
Two categories ’deserving poor’ and ‘undeserving poor’
Attitudes to Poverty
Poor employment act 1817?
Made public money available to employ able-bodied paupers on public works such as road building
Attitude seen towards the poor as ones to be made profit out of
(Attitudes to Poverty)
