Poverty Before Reforms Flashcards
What types of poverty did Rowntree find?
Primary - people could never earn enough to afford necessities for life.
Secondary - people could not afford medical emergencies.
What were the issues with poverty?
Parents abandoned their children so Dr Barvado’s and similar charities cared for these charities.
People became dependent upon charities for help, 700.
The Salvation Army helped those in London.
People feared being sent to the workhouse where sexes were separate, the work was difficult and monotonous, and families were split.
2/3’s of workers unfit to fight in Boer War, health needed for empire.
What did the New Liberals aim to achieve ? (1906)
Passing acts to help the old and the young - the most vulnerable.
What did the provision of school meals act achieve ? (1906)
The act was as a result of reports showing that hungry children could not perform in school.
By 1914, 150,000 received free school meals to improve performance.
However, as the act was permissive, many councils decided against supplying meals as this would increase taxes.
What was the notification of births act? When was it?
This came in place due to increased awareness of infant mortality before the age of one and five. The act involved having a Medical Officer of Health visit the parents so the officer could call on the mother and teach her to care for the child.
What was the education act? (1907)
A medical service inspected children for health conditions. In 1912, for those who couldn’t afford it, followed up free treatment was introduced by school clinics.
What was the children’s charter? (1908)
This aimed to protect children from the adult world. Before in 1900, children were legally responsible and could be placed in adult prisons, they were smoking and drinking, and making matchboxes and brushes. The act redefined the end of childhood as 14.
What were some features of the Children’s Charter?
Prevented children from working in dangerous trades.
Parents prosecuted for cruelty or neglect.
Illegal to sell alcohol or cigarettes to under 16s.
Juvenile courts for children accused of crimes.
In 1900, who researched poverty?
Booth - Life and Labour of the People in London - learned that 1/3 were under the poverty line as could not afford food, clothes, or shelter.
Rowntree - a Quaker industrialist - investigated York with A Study of Town Life. Found 1/3 lived in poverty in York
