Poverty and Pauperism Flashcards
Self Help
Idea in Victorian Britain that one must use their own abilities and determination to become successful and escape poverty, championed by the middle class capitalism
Pauperism
General term for being poor but especially those receiving poor law relief payments from the state
Why did the self help ethos create a negative attitude to pauperism
The profitable middle class were paying most the money for the poor relief system, but they believed that the poor shouldn’t receive help and that by their own hard work they could escape poverty.
when was the original poor law
1601
poor relief
The assistance in provision of food or shelter given to people to alleviate absolute poverty
Why was the poor law system being put under pressure
Extreme levels of population growth
Had the 1601 Poor law system changed by 1800
Only a few improvements like poorhouses for orphans and homeless, apart from that the system remained essentially the same for 200 years and was very outdated
Who administered poor relief
Responsibility of local parishes so poor relief was very subjective and differed in each parish, no national system
What was the most common mode of support offered by the parishes
Outdoor relief
Outdoor relief
Process of giving food money clothes to the poor instead of putting them in an institution
How many poor houses by 1776
over 2000 with 20 - 50 inmates in each
What was wrong with the poor houses
They were incredibly expensive to run which resulted in Gilberts act
Gilberts Act what and when
1782 only orphans, sick and elderly could be admitted to poor houses others must look to find work or receive outdoor relief
How did the speenhamland system come about
The parishes came up with it in an effort to create a uniform provision for those claiming outdoor relief
Speenhamland system what and when
1795 aimed to determine the relief given by tying it to the cost of a gallon loaf of bread, so a single mans relief would equal the cost of three loaves of bread
example of how the speenhamland system worked
say the cost of a gallon loaf of bread was one shilling then a single mans relief would be three shilling
How was money raised for the system
The poor rate
Roundsman system
The labour of paupers would be sold to local employers usually farmers at a reduced cost, the difference would be made up by the local parish
Who administered these systems
Overseers of the poor who would collect and distribute the poor rate under the authority of the local JP
Act for Regulation of parish vestries when what and what did it show
1818 They aimed to create parish committees who would recommend and regulate the correct amounts of provision and they were elected by the ratepayers. This showed a growing awareness of the need for change in the system due to the increasingly large cost of the system
What was the population in 1801 compared to 1601
9 million which was over double
What combination of events put immense strain on the poor relief system
- rapid population growth
- industrialisation and mechanisation reduced employment prospects in rural areas
- Wars with France in late 1700s and early 1800s caused cost of living to rise, and then when this subsided many soldiers returned without any work
Why was the poor law system ineffective to begin with
- each parish acted independently so no coherent nation wide system response to paupers
- Extremely outdated, 200 years
- extremely expensive
Why did the speenhamland system come under criticism in the early 1800s
Price of bread rose substantially due to war with France and lack of foreign competition due to the corn law, this made speenhamland system incredibly expensive causing additional poor rate taxes to be charged on ratepayers
What was the average amount spent on relief between 1814 and 1818
£6.4 million
What bad incentives did the speenhmaland system encourage
The employer to pay low wages as they knew the system would top them up, no incentive for the labourer to work hard and earn higher wages
How did the speenhamland system cause the swing riots
It encouraged low wages in lots of these rural areas where it was enacted which was one of the reasons the swing riots broke out
How did the failure of the system in the early 1800s cause discontent among all classes
The rising cost to try and correct the system was causing discontent amongst the upper and middle class ratepayer, the inadequacies of the system to accommodate the climate of the country at the time meant the poor weren’t receiving enough relief so they began to riot
Did people in urban areas seek poor relief
Urban wages were so low some would have to supplement with poor relief, especially during times of economic downturn
What was set up in 1832 in repose to all the pressure for improvements to the poor relief system
A Royal Commission to investigate the system
Who were the two most notable members of the royal commission
Nassau Senior and Edwin Chadwick
What was the method for the royal commission and was it successful
Questionares were sent out to 15,000 parishes but only 10% of these were answered
What was the conclusion of the royal commission report
The system was very inadequate and didn’t effectively distribute the excessive cost it incurred, due to the lack of uniformity and the ease that the system could be taken advantage of
What were the recommendations made in the conclusions of the royal commissions report
- removal of outdoor relief
- More punishing workhouses to deter those seeking relief
- Grouping parishes together to manage poorhouses more effectively
- Central board to oversee and implement a new system
What were the two cynical but most common views towards poverty in the 1800s
Fatalistic - Poverty is a feature of any society and that is how it is can’t be changed
Moralistic - Poverty is a result of a weakness of character
Where did the cynical view on poverty come from
Industrial Revolution made many people previously poorer much richer in the middle class through their own work, thus they believed anyone could get rich through their own work even the poorest
–> Among these there was a fear of losing their wealth and becoming in poverty so they sought to put down those in poverty to protect themselves
Deserving Poor who were treated with pity and support
Those who were unable to help themselves - Orphans, infirm, sick, elderly
Undeserving poor who were treated with disgust
Able bodied men and women who struggled to find work and that was believed to be their own fault
Poor Employment Act when and what
1817 granted public money to employ paupers in public work like road building, encouraging underserving poor to find work
Why was Pauperism seen as a social evil not poverty
Poverty was seen as the state needed to inspire hard work but paupersim took away self reliance and hard work and encouraged indolence
Who were the two main criticisers of poor relief whose views were very popular in early 1800s
Joseph Townsend
Thomas Malthus
What was Thomas Malthus Argument (Malthusian catastrophe)
He outlined that population grows exponentially when food growth does, eventually populations will outgrow the supply of food causing catastrophe. he argued the natural ways to stop the catastrophe were being blocked by poor relief so it must be stopped completely
what was Joseph Townsends argument
poor law provided a safety net for the poor so they would never experience complete poverty and the lessons that would provide, promoted idleness from those in a degree of poverty
What was Joseph Townsends writing in 1786
Dissertation on the Poor Laws
Who wanted to maintain the current system
Humanitarians and Paternalistic tories who wanted to care for the less fortunate and avoid more rioting from lower class
Who wanted to slightly change the system
Maintained the same humanist view but recognised the spiralling cost and concurred that this needed slight reform
Who wanted to radically transform the system
Mainly Whigs who believed it was outdated and ineffective in industrial Britain
Why did some people adopt the fatalistic attitude and support the maintenance of poor law
Poverty was inevitable so those with the economic means to help should do so, the system also gave the parishes the responsibility for their area which they believed was the best as they would know best
What was David Ricardo Wage-Fund theory
The money the employer spends on the poor rate, was reducing the money the employer could be using to pay his workers
What was David Ricardo’s conclusion and its effect on society
The lazy paupers were taking the money from those willing to work, harmed the workers and the employer and interfered with free trade, This along with the economic downturn in the 1830s caused many middle and upper class to support the radical transforming of the system
Who had a progressive view on poverty and what did he think
Thomas Paine suggested that the government should help people on poverty to ensure welfare for its people by providing money for pensions for elderly and money for destitute families, he didn’t believe that poverty was the fault of the person but failure of government to support them
Who believed that good character was built through someone circumstances and self improvement, so by offering good conditions poor people would seek to improve
Robert Owen
What did Robert Owen do with his belief
Created a model factory in new lanark that provided good working conditions and education, offering people a means to better themselves
Where Robert Owen and Thomas Paine successful
They found some individual support and progress but had no popularity in government
What did Bentham propose in 1796
A National Charity Company that would be responsible for the poor in the country
Bentham’s Panopticon Model proposition
benthams prison model in which one guard could watch all the inmates without them knowing, he thought it should be used for poorhouses where the inmates would be put to work and would only receive enough to live as motivation to get out
How did Bentham’s happiness principle apply to his idea for the poor
Everyone would be happy as no one would be starving, the poor would also be put to work which would improve society, also got rid of the huge poor rate tax
What about Bentham’s theory was popular with poor law reformers
The happiness principle supported giving less relief and making it unpleasant to try and move people away from relief
What amount of money did poor relief spending stay above from 1815 to 1833
£5.7million
When did dependence on poor relief increase greatly
times of economic depression as wages were very low and many labourers and workers would get laid off also
When was the poor law amendment act and what did it reflect
1834 and reflected the view that those in poverty were there at their own fault
What were the provisions of the new poor law
- Poor Law Commission as a central authority
- Discouraging outdoor relief for the able bodied poor
- Parishes were grouped together into clusters with a workhouse as the mains source of relief, worked under the concept of less eligibility
Concept of Less Eligibility
Concept of deliberately making relief harsh and workhouse conditions poor to try turn as many people as possible away from relief.
How did the new act change Gilberts act
It made poor houses effectively the only means of poor relief, but to act as a deterrent to those seeking relief by enacting a strict regime
What was the rationale behind the new workhouse regime
Only the most destitute would accept the poor house as it would encourage those who could work to go and find work, got rid of expensive exploitable systems like speenhmaland
How did the poor law commission reorganise the parishes
15,000 into 600 larger unions for larger workhouses to be built
Guardians of the poor law
Local men that would govern the new union areas and find the funds to build poor houses, effectively keeping the same parish responsibility for how the law was carried out
How many workhouses were built by 1839
350
How much did it cost to build the Banbury workhouse in 1835 and how many did it house
£6,200 housed 300 people
What did the expensive cost of building workhouses do
meant running costs were kept very low to also enforce the less eligibility policy
How long a day did workhouse inmates do and what kind of jobs
10 hours and work varied house to house with some doing rock breaking others manufacturing textiles
What was banned in a workhouse in Southwell
Beer tobacco and suns with tea reserved for the elderly the inmates ha a very basic diet and only drank water
How did the Workhouses depersonalise the inmates
- enforced a common uniform
- labelled deserving and underserving poor
- Separated families
- No free time
By 1862 what was the cost of indoor compared to outdoor relief
Indoor per pauper - 4s 8d
Outdoor per pauper - 2s 3d
What happened to outdoor relief in the new act
despite the intention of banning it due to the practice of relief being left to the local guardians many would still carry out outdoor relief as it was cheaper than indoor and that was the main aim to keep the cost low
Why weren’t workhouses built in the north
They weren’t necessary as there were significant industrial urban job opportunities, strain on the poor relief system only came in times of economic downturn, it was cyclical not structural issue
Why was indoor relief also opposed on rural areas
In the old system Farmers would benefit from some form of employment even if it was short term but in the new system they were paying for the potential employees to stay in a poor house
Why did the new poor law fail
The new methods weren’t accepted with loopholes found by many, also wasn’t applied due to there being no central enforcer with the same rule for all.
What did the Tories object about the new poor law
- Centralised element undermined local authority powers
- It was a whig law
- Increasing role of government in private affairs
- It was immoral and didn’t care for the people
Who came out against eh act in 1834 and who supported it
The times newspaper openly declared against the act, was supported by the Duke of wellington and Robert peel
Which Radical politician was very against the poor law as it made seeking poor relief effectively a crime
William Cobbett
What happened in Bedfordshire as response to the act in 1835
Riots with 500 people with 4 men arrested, people believed the act aimed to save money rather than help the poor
Why was southern opposition to the act ineffective and by 1836 the system was well established
- Riots weren’t well organised
- All parishes had different old systems so all the riots had different aims so there was no cohesion or larger movement
- Was just an emotive response
Why did the act face more opposition in the north
The workhouse system had no place in the north as the abundance of industry meant most people were employed or could find employment
Who were the two men who mostly organised the Northern opposition to the new poor law
Tory radical reformers MP Michael Sadler and Richard Oastler
How did Michael Sadler and Richard Oastler help northern opposition to the new poor law
They mad etc opposition much more organised and respectable, they gave speeches and printed articles to raise opposition
What was the banned propaganda pamphlet against the poor law that was entirely fictitious
Book of murder
Why did opposition to the poor law grow after 1837
Trade depression meant people were seeking their usual outdoor relief in the north but were refused it so turned to support the opposition against the act
Where did the northern riots happen in 1837-38
Bradford, dewsbury, todmorden
What is an example of the clear opposite to the new poor law from those in the system itself
Huddersfield 1837 the guardians refused to elect a new administrator for their region and the local JP didn’t intervene
Why was northern opposition more threatening
Contained working class who just wanted the same relief and middle class who were outraged at the encroachment of the government on their own localised poor law systems which maintained a stable society during depression
General Outdoor relief Prohibitory order when
1836
How was the northern opposition successful
The government set aside the order that banned outdoor relief for some northern areas, recognising the local boards autonomy in enacting relief
Why did the Anti - poor law movement subside by 1839
The commissions compromise undermined the movement as the poor in the north were happy they could gain outdoor relief and the middle class retreated from the cause, other causes like chartism also gained more popularity.
Outdoor Labor test order what and when
1842 allowed use of outdoor relief for able bodied poor during times of economic downturn
Who was the master of Andover Workhouse and why was that significant
Colin McDougall who was a war veteran and renowned for being extremely harsh and disciplinary, thoroughly enforcing less eligibility
What did the men do in Andover workhouse
Crushed animal bones for fertiliser which was extremely strenuous
How did McDougall keep costs so low
Only the barest minimum food was provided and all extra charitable provisions at Christmas and coronations were withheld
How many paupers had tried to escape Andover workhouse between 1837-46
61
What rumours began the Andover scandal
That inmates were having to eat spare scrapes of meat left on bones to survive
How were the events at Andover reported
local poor law guardian to concerns to the local MP who reported them to the game secretary, poor law commissioner carried out an investigation in 1845 in which all the rumour were true, caused public outcry
Who was the editor of the times who made sure the Andover Scandal was heavily publicised in 1846
John Walter
what was the effect of the Andover Scandal in 1847
the poor law commission was dissolved and replaced by a board which ended independent administration of relief by local parishes centralising the system further
When did anti-poor law feeling re-emerge
late 1840s
How many more workhouses were built between 1851 and 1866
100
What can the re-emergence of anti-poor law feeling be alternatively seen as
Not greater social awareness but actually middle class desire to secure their position and interests by stabilising the lower classes
What did Henry Mayhew argue in his 1849 London Labour and the London Poor
Pauperism wasn’t caused by indolence but by the incredibly low wages paid by employers that weren’t enough to survive economic cycles
What was the evidence of better attention placed on the poor relief system and workhouse conditions
1858 Workhouse Visiting Society
Huddersfield Scandal when and what
1848 outbreak of typhus had ill people sharing beds with dead bodies and no cleaning was done to stop the outbreak
How did the middle class begin to help with the conditions of the poor
As their affluence grew combined with Christian charitable feeling they formed charities which aimed to help the paupers supplementing poor relief
When was the Outdoor relief prohibitory order and what did it cause
1844 caused growth in charities giving outdoor relief
Outdoor Relief regulation order when and what
1852 aimed to limit the outdoor relief provision some areas had but faced a lot of opposition and was rescinded
Angela Burdett-Coutts
Was the richest women in England in 1837 and was denied a role in the family banking business so turned to philanthropy where she opened a poor home with Charles dickens which helped educate children and provide a home for prostitutes
Why did women fit well with the anti poor law movement
The movement for care of the poor was well suited to assumed female maternal instincts
What attitude change took place in the 1850s
Less of a self help attitude towards the poor and more of an idea that those with means to help the poor should do
What valuable process did many of the charities established carry out
Information collecting about the poor in workhouses to better understand the causes of poverty and how to work to alleviate poverty
The Lancet when and what
A medical journal that in 1865 investigated the quality of medical care in London workhouses
Metropolitan Poor act when and what
1867 caused by the lancet investigation demanded that medical facilities be separate from the workhouses, also created a metropolitan asylum board
Charity Organisation society when and what
1869 distinguished between deserving and underserving poor by conducting interviews and provided methods to help deserving poor. Showed a well organised method to assist poor relief and didn’t believe in excessive help
What was the more rational approach to poor relief that the Charity Organisation Society practiced
Using rigorous investigation to find out the deserving poor and then providing help to these by directing them but not giving excessive charity so still enforcing self help. A more thoughtful rational approach to poverty
What was Thomas Carlyles work and the was it published
Past and Present 1843
What did Thomas Carlyle argue in his work
Drew attention to the class divide in Britain and the conditions for the poor in the workhouses, resonated with the middle class and grew the feeling of charity towards lower classes
Why did Dickens have such a strong social conscience for the conditions of the poor in workhouses and wanted to help those in poverty
Because he grew up in poverty and his parents worked in a poorhouse as he worked in a shoe factory at 12
What book did dickens write which raised awareness to the terrible workhouse conditions
Oliver Twist 1839
What did Dickens for aim to do
Remind higher classes and society that working class and poor were normal people and challenged the deserving pauper belief.
Why was the use of serial Novels significant for Dickens
Made publication significantly cheaper so Dickens work could be read by all people
When would Dickens work especially raise social awareness for the poor
When workhouse scandals came out that proved what was written in Dickens fiction was actually true
Elizabeth Gaskell who what when
Author who published Mary Barton in 1848 which showed a realistic representation of life for the working class but was done in fiction so raised awareness to wide audiences without generating controversy
Who was Samuel Smiles
A social reformer who supported polecat reform and was involved with moral force chartism
What was Samuel smiles greatest work and when was it published
Self Help in 1859 which enforced individual determination to improve oneself as the biggest driver of success which was an idea popular among victorians
How was Samuel Smiles work applied to the poor
Middle class reformers recognised how they were successful fro self help so believed the poor could be with a point in the right direction, was the framework for the Charity Organisation Society
How was the self help idea to poverty adopted by those with economic interests
More people being encouraged to improve themselves and seek fortunes to become more successful would help increase economic growth and reduce the cost to ratepayers if more paupers were going to work
How did ideas of self help evolve throughout the period
- Initially poor relief was seen as creating lazy dependent people and interfering with the self help idea
- This inspired a radicalised self help idea with the poor law amendment act leaving paupers completely to themselves with less eligibility
- Eventually a more supportive approach in conjunction with self help found a middle ground that effectively helped the poor
—> However views in pauperism remained cynical by some and poverty remained very present in industrial Britain
What did Dr Edward Smith do to help poverty
Conducted the first national food survey in 1863 covering 370 poorer families to calculate a minimum subsistence level
which churches always showed a more caring attitude to the poor
non conformist (Methodist and Calvinist)
What did William Booth do to help poverty
Founded the Salvation Army in 1865 which was a charity aimed to help the poor
