Whitechapel Flashcards
Pollution in 19th Century Whitechapel?
The prevailing wind from the west carried smoke and gas fumes throughout the street of London
Who did the Pollution affect?
- The Young and the Elderly (weaker immune systems)
- Labourers outside working
- Caused an increase in Asthma
Who was Dr Thomas Bernard?
Trained as a doctor at the local hospital, who went on to set up many orphanages
What was Dr Bernard’s first project and what did it lead to?
It was a school set up for children without parents, one of his students called Jim Jarvis called Dr Bernard up to a rooftop in order to show him where they sleep in order to escape being sent to the workhouse
When did Dr Bernard set up his first orphanage?
In 1870, for Boys
When did Dr Bernard die?
1905
When Dr Bernard died, how many Bernardo homes were set up nationally?
Nearly 100
How children did each Bernardo home care for?
85 Children
What was the Workhouse?
It was a poor relief system set up to take care of the young, poor, sick and elderly, who were expected to do manual labour in exchange for a place to sleep
What were the conditions like in the Workhouse?
- Families were separated
- Rats were carrying diseases everywhere
- Expected to wear a uniform and were labelled as inmates
Why were the conditions so bad in the Workhouse?
It was made as a deterrent, to keep costs down by preventing people from using it and to be seen as a definite last resort
Why were Vargants kept separate in the workhouse?
They were seen as lazy and a bad influence on the rest
What work was there in Whitechapel?
- Railway Construction
- Labourers in London’s docks (uncertain income and hours varied)
- Factories: Matches, Tailoring, Shoe Making
- Sweatshops
When did the economy become depressed with widespread unemployment?
1870s
What were Sweatshops like?
Small, cramped, dusty, paid very little for long hours
The workers were often immigrants, escaping other countries and couldn’t speak with the police about the conditions
(Some worked 20-hour shifts and had to sleep on site)
Where was the majority of Housing and what was it like?
The majority of housing was in overcrowded rookeries riddled with crime and disease
In 1877, how many people would be contained in 1 rookery?
1 Rookery would contain 123 rooms, accommodating 757 people
What was the 1881 census (Population: Housing)?
Population: 30,709
Occupied Houses: 4,069
How did so many people fit into so few homes?
Houses were divided into numerous separate apartments. There could be up to 30 people living in each apartment, it was so densely packed it was hard to move.
When was Model Housing set up?
1881 with 286 flats replacing a slum-filled area with 11 new blocks of flats.
Who paid for the model housing?
George Peabody
Who designed the model Housing?
Henry Darbishire
What was the Artisans Dwelling Act?
Gave local authorities the power to purchase and rebuild slum areas
How much did it cost to rent a room per week in the model housing?
3 shillings for one room
What was the average weekly wage?
22s, 6p
What is Sanitation?
Conditions associated with public health such as running water and sewage systems
Why was there such a high crime rate in Whitechapel?
Many would rather fall into crime instead of going to the workhouse and battling extreme poverty. In addition to this, many of the available jobs were either factories or sweatshops where the conditions were deplorable.
Why was crime easy enough to do?
- Overcrowding
- Poor Lighting
- Confined Spaces
- Multiple exits in the rookeries
Why was Alcohol and Drugs such a large part of Whitechapel society?
- Many fell into dealing as a way of getting money
- It was safer to drink alcohol than water most of the time
- There were many opium dens across Whitechapel since drugs were an escape from their actual lives
- Many addicts would commit more crimes just to fund their addiction
How many Prostitutes were there in Whitechapel?
1200
How many Brothels were there in Whitechapel?
62
Why did so many women fall into prostitution?
Many were unable to work the long hours in the factory doing hard labour so they turned to prostitution as a job instead. This is because they were very poor and didn’t have many stable job options.
Was Prostitution legal?
Yes, but it was seen more as a social problem rather than a crime.
Why was discrimination against Jews prominent?
- Many Jewish immigrants were seen to own Sweatshops where other Eastern European immigrants would have to work in very poor conditions
- Many believed that Jack the Ripper was Jewish since they didn’t believe that an Englishman could do this
- Police had to prevent Jewish riots as well as common beatings of Jewish people
- Differences in Culture made many sus of them ( Sabbath, Speaking Yiddish )
Anarchy?
A political movement that opposes all forms of organised government
Who was a leading Anarchist?
Mikhail Bakunin (Russian)
