Poverty and Pauperism 1780 - 1834 Flashcards
Describe the 1601 Elizabethan Poor Law
responsibility of parish of birth
left choice of how to deal with poor to parishes
indoor/ outdoor relief
The Gilberts Act
1782- due to rising cost of poor relief only the infirm, elderly and orphans were entitled to indoor relief
What did Townsend publish in 1786?
‘Dissertation on The Poor Laws’ - criticised the system in place
When was The Speenhamland system adopted in the south?
1795
What was the principal behind the Speenhamland System?
based the amount of poor relief on the price of bread
What arose from the war with France between 1793-1815?
- increased living cost
- criticism arose around the speenhamland system as it encouraged low wages and idleness of workers
Roundhouse system
sold pauper labour at reduced rates and was subsidised by the JP
what was the population of Britain in 1801?
9 million - 2 x Elizabethan
The Poor Employment Act
1817 - granted government money to employ the poor in public sector jobs
Act for Regulation of Parish Vestries
1818 - allowed parish committees to be set up, more resistant to provide poor relief as was made up of rate payers
When was the Royal Commission set up?
1st Feb 1832
How many questionnaires did TRC send out?
15,000 only received a reply from 10%
What 4 recommendations were made by the Royal Commission?
- remove all outdoor relief
- punishing workhouses
- group parishes together
- create a central board
What two groups were poor generally put into?
deserving and undeserving
Quote from Joseph Townsend’s 1786 ‘Dissertation’ that demonstrates many Victorian’s self help attitude
‘hunger shall tame the fiercest of animals’
