Victorian social reforms 1868-1885 (Disraeli/ conservatives)

Question 1

education reforms - what

Answer 1

Education act 1876
- Made it illegal for under 10s to work
- Compulsory school attendance committee to ensure attendance

Question 2

education reforms - successful

Answer 2

• Established school attendance committees
• School had the right to make education compulsory

Question 3

education reforms - unsuccessful

Answer 3

• Education act 1876 was passive so had limited effects
• Some parents refused as it meant they would lose the income from their child working

Question 4

trade unions - what

Answer 4

Conspiracy and protection of property act 1875
- Allowed trade unions to picket peacefully
- Protected trade unions from criminal conspiracy in trade disputes

Question 5

trade unions - successful

Answer 5

• Decriminalised trade union activity
• Reduced industrial unrest

Question 6

trade union -unsuccessful

Answer 6

Liberal had already allowed picketing by 1874
Lost the 1880 election to Gladstone despite hopes that this would strengthen working class conservatism

Question 7

workers right - what

Answer 7

Factory Act 1874
- Raised the minimum age for children working in factories form 8 to 10 and 13 to 14 for full time work
- Limited the working hours of women and children from 10.5 hours to 10 hours
- Factory & Workshops Act 1878
combined existing factory acts into a single piece of legislation

Question 8

workers right - successful

Answer 8

Factory act 1874 marked a significant step forward for the regulation of work hours

Question 9

workers right unsuccessful

Answer 9

Nine hour movement had been campaigning for 9 hours day since 1874

Question 10

housing - what

Answer 10

Artisans Dwelling Act 1875
- Allowed local authorities to build and redevelop slum areas

Question 11

housing - successful

Answer 11

Local authorities had the power to clean up and improve living standards

Question 12

housing - unsuccessful

Answer 12

Permissive so by 1881 only 10 out of 87 England & Welsh towns took action under the Act.
Led to the displacement of thousands in Birmingham

Question 13

public health and food - what

Answer 13

Public health act 1875
- Required local authorities to provide clean water
- Required local authorities to dispose of sewage and refuse
Sale of food and drug act 1878
River pollution act 1876
- regulated the discharge of waste from factories and sewage into waterways

Question 14

public heath and food - success

Answer 14

• Public health act 1875 was the first compulsory health act
• Some councils used this to improve conditions
• River pollution act 1876 was the first major attempt to address river pollution

Question 15

public heath and food - unsuccessful

Answer 15

• Based on council initiative so some was unsuccessful in some councils
• River pollution act 1876 faced criticism for its weak enforcement mechanisms and lack of specific standards for what constituted “pollution”