Poverty And Pauperism (booklet 5) Flashcards
How did the attitudes to poverty change with the government (inc PLAA) 1785-1834? costs
Cost issue 1815-33 poor relief expenditure was 2% of GDP. Royal Commission into the operation of the poor laws 1832-34 stated that poor laws were inadequate in provision, excessive cost so recommend outdoor relief and workhouses. PLAA (poor law amendment act) 1834 ban outdoor relief, less poor eligibility.
How did the attitudes to poverty change with the middle class 1785-1834?
New class- 1816-31 grew 75%, looked for reasons for poverty as feared loosing fortune, created in/deserving poor and attitude of self help. Wage fund theory (one wage change inversely affects others) encourage harsh views. Minority encourage collectivism like Robert Owen- factory owner of New Lanark, blamed poverty on economic system and exploitation. MAINLY NEGATIVE.
How did the attitudes to poverty change with the ratepayers/ideologies 1785-1834? I+U
Malthus promoted individualism, believed Poor Laws increased population without increasing food (idle poor wasting), so abolish poor law to ensure more food and better wages for ratepayers- Malthus published 1786 essay on population. Bentham + Chadwick utilitarianism- ‘greatest happiness for greatest number of people’, wanted 250 workhouses for 500k workers. Chadwick secretary to Royal commission into operation of the poor laws 1832-34, so could influence PLAA.
How was harsh treatment of the poor a significant response to poverty 1834-70?
Harsh conditions in workhouses: no food, long hours, picking Oakum. Andover (1845/6) and Huddersfield (1848) workhouse scandals, but 100 workhouses still built 1851-66. PLAA 1834. Wage fund theory. Middle class neg view. Malthus individualism. Bentham and Chadwick utilitarianism.
How was aiding the poor a result of poverty in the years 1834-70? (sympathy)
Times publicly against PLAA 1834. Andover scandal covered in times- provoked abolition of poor law commission 1847. Workhouse visiting society 1858 to improve morals. 1852 outdoor relief regulation, reintroduce outdoor relief. Economic problem with workhouses 1862: workhouse=4s8d vs outdoor relief=2s3d per person. Robert Owen owner of factory New Lanark, blame poverty on economic system and exploitation.
How did the PLAA use of money change and stay the same after 1834?
Continuity: PLAA intended to ban poor relief, but 1862 workhouse cost 4s8d per person for a week vs. 2s3d for outdoor relief. Indoor relief estimated 50-100% more costly than outdoor. Workhouse initial cost high like 1835 Banbury £6200 for 300 capacity.
Changes: intent to ban outdoor relief, so 402 workhouses built immediately.
How did the extent of poor relief change or stay the same after PLAA 1834?
Continuity: great opposition to indoor in North, 1838 Poor Law Commission allowed use of old methods (inconsistent law). North avoid paying for indoor, as seasonal employment so workhouse never full- outdoor most effective.
Changes: PLAA amalgamated 15,000 parishes into administrative groups of 30 to reduce discrepancies. PLAA well implemented in southern counties.
How did the impact on paupers change or stay the same after PLAA 1834?
Continuity: dependent on geography.
Changes: Speenhamland system (subsidised wages using poor’s money) abolished 1834. Workhouses formed on principle of “less eligibility” (recommended by utilitarian Chadwick) so workhouses unpleasant to discourage poverty relief.
How did the attitudes to poverty change with the government (inc PLAA) 1834-70?
1852 outdoor relief regulation reintroduce outdoor relief. 1847 Poor law commission abolished, poor law board introduced (sympathy after Andover 1845/6). 1867 metropolitan poor act require medical facilities for workhouses.1851-66 100 workhouses built on top of current 402 (no sympathy).
How did the attitudes to poverty change with the middle class 1834-70?
1845 reports Andover workhouse so hungry, eating raw animal flesh, published by times to encourage sympathy and show PLAA not perfect. Charles Dickens Oliver Twist 1837 provoke sympathy. Thomas Carlyle 1843 ‘past and present’ described workhouse as ‘poor law prisons’- well read by reformers.
How did the attitudes to poverty change with the ratepayers/ideologies/charities 1834-70?
Workhouse visiting society 1858, unofficial checks on workhouses to argue for better treatment of poor- public opinion change quicker than gov. 1869 Charity Organisation Society to distinguish (un)/deserving. Principle of self help.
