Status of Poor in 18th, 19th and early 20th century Flashcards
Describe efforts to combat poverty pre-1906.
- Queen Elizabeth and 1601 Poor Law
- Quadruple of relief 1795-1815
- Introduction of workhouses 1723
- Centralisation of workhouses 1834
- Poor Law Amendment Act 1832
Describe harshness of relief in a workhouse.
- Referred to as ‘Bastilles’ by Chartists
- Introduction in 1723 and centralisation 1834
- 50% women, 19% males (mostly old/ill men)
- By 1861, 35,000 children under 12 in workhouse
- Men and women separated
- Punishments
- Labour
- Increasing size
Describe the growth of workhouses [stat].
By 1770s, there were 2,000 workhouses.
By 1776 there were 16,000 in the workhouse in London, 2% of total London population.
By 1861, 35,000 children under 12.
By 19th century can’t cope with numbers.
Describe the distribution of wealth in England.
1.2 million / 4.7 million lived on over £700 a year.
Top 10% owned 93% of England’s wealth.
What were the attitudes of Queen Victoria to poverty?
Generally favoured legislation directed toward the poor, e.g. Royal Commission on Housing and several charities.
However, did not take firm stance.
When was Queen Victoria’s rule?
1837 - Jan 1901.
What were the attitudes of King Edward VII to poverty?
Disappointed when the Liberals came to power, and refused to add more Liberals to the House of Lords in 1909 to pass the People’s Budget. Instead insisted that the issue should be put to the electorate.
When was King Edward VII’s Rule?
1902 - May 1910.
Give one fact that demonstrates the attitude of employers to the unemployed.
Employers often referred to the unemployed as ‘the great unwashed’ or ‘the hands’.
Describe and explain the attitudes of the general public to poverty.
LAISSEZ-FAIRE: Cecil Frances Alexander’s hymn is demonstrative of this: ‘The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate. God made them, high and lowly, and order’d their estate.’
Generally attitude that poor were poor was held due to ignorance until social reformers in 1890s.
Francis Place wrote that the enjoyments of the poor at that time were limited to ‘…sexual intercourse and drinking.’
What was the 1905 Royal Commission?
The Royal Commission was set up in 1905 to investigate the 1832 Poor Law. The Minority Report was headed by Beatrice Webb and the Fabian Society, and believed that:
1. the poor were poor as a result of trade cycles and old age.
2. more should be done for the poor
The Majority Report believed that poverty was a result of morality and the 1832 Poor Law was sufficient.
Give points for attitudes to the poor.
- unequal distribution of wealth
- attitudes of queen Victoria
- attitudes of Edward VII
- attitudes of employers
- attitudes of the general public
- the Conservative attitude and the 1905 Royal Commission
- Malthusianism, utilitarianism and the iron law of wages
- lack of political priority
Describe ideological attitudes to poverty.
- Malthusianism: Thomas Malthus published the influential ‘An Essay on the Principle of Population’ in 1798. Argued that population growth if unchecked would outstrip food supplies. Thomas Malthus argued that methods to help poor counter-productive because would allow poor to have more children and increase the population further.
- Utilitarianism: developed by Jeremy Bentham. Interpreted to support Gladstonian Liberalism.
- Iron Law of Wages: developed by David Ricardo. Believed that if wages were raised for minority of workers would undermine wages of others.
Describe the lack of political priority on poverty.
An analysis of speeches given by Liberal MPs pre-1906 reveals:
- 100% contained attacks on the opposition
- 98% argued for keeping free trade
- 69% argued for reform of the poor law
How was poverty worsening?
- Jewish and Irish immigration
- Birth rate boom
- Urbanisation and industrialisation
- …Leading to an urban population boom
