Poverty And Paupersim Flashcards
Self-help
belief in the importance of people’s own abilities and determination to help themselves become successful, which as particularly influential after 1859 when the reformer Samuel Smiles published his book Self Help
Pauperism
general term for being poor but is also refers to anyone in receipt of state-provided relief under the Poor Laws
Parish
small territorial area divided in this way from the purpose of administration. A parish is the area served by an anglican parish church
Poor Relief
assistance given by the gomment or other bides to alleviate the impact of poverty, usually the provision of food or shelter and sometimes money or clothing
Indolence
used to describe laziness or general idleness
Panopticon
a model prison invented by Jeremy Bentham in which a single guard would be able to watch the entire prison without the inmates knowing they are being watched
Less Eligibility
applied to the concept of deliberately making the poor relief harsh so that only the most destitute would apply for it
Poor Law Commission
created in 1834, three commissioners, known as ‘the Bawdshaws of Somerset House’ was in charge of the management of the New Poor Law. Thomas Frankland Lewis, George Nicholls and J.G. Shaw-Lefevre. Included setting the new parish unions and appointing the Boards of Guardians. Their secretary was Edwin Chadwick
Riot Act
passed in 1714 which allowed authorities to declare groups of 12 or more an illegal assembly, it also empowered authorities to use punitive measures to regain order and absolved a criminal charge if people were injured or killed while doing so.
Non-conformist
Title given t o Protestant faiths such as Calvinism or Methodism which did not conform to the doctrines for th Church of England or used the Common Book of Prayer
Philanthropy
tern used to describe general concern for the welfare of others, usually characterised by donations of money or other resources aimed at helping people
Empiricism
used to describe that which is based on evidence or observation rather than logic or theory
Serial novel
format of publishing work- usually narrative fiction- in sections or instalments. Instead of publishing a single volume book, a chapter would feature each month at the cost of around one shilling and then each month afterwards subsequent chapter would appear
1600
Elizabethan Poor Law passed
1782
Gilbert’s Law passed allowing parishes to group together for the purpose of supporting a poor house to provide relief for only those truly unable to work, the able-bodied poor given outdoor relief.
1786
Gilbert’s Law passed allowing parishes to group together for the purpose of supporting a poor house to provide relief for only those truly unable to work, the able-bodied poor given outdoor relief.
1786
Joseph Townsend publishes Dissertation on the Poor Laws in which he critiques the system of subsidies
1793
War with France begins
1795
Speenhamland system established in some southern counties setting the poor rate at the price of a loaf of bread
1815
End of Napoleonic Wars- Corn Laws passed
1817
Poor Employment Act Passed granting public money to employ the poor in public works
1818
Act for the Regulation of Parish Vestries is passed allowing elected committees to scrutinies relief claims
1819
Act to Amend the Laws for Relief of the Poor is passed
1832
Royal Commission on Poor relief set up to investigate the existing system of relief- Passage of Great Reform Act
