Poor Law Reforms and Social Welfare Overview
Poor Law Reforms, 1834
Imran Ahmad Sajid, PhD
Source: Walter Friedlander. (1968). Introduction to Social Welfare. pp.23-27
Disadvantages of Partial Relief System
1.
Rising tax rates
2.
More Poverty and Pauperism
3.
Political Opposition
Royal Commission
for the Inquiring into the Administration & Practical Operation of the
Poor Laws—
1832
•
Chairman
: Prof. Nasau W. Senior (economist)
•
Report:
1.
The
partial relief system failed
to bring to work the children
and able bodied poor
2.
It made them
permanent beggars
3.
Tax is abused
by farmers/landlords, and manufacturers etc
Chairman
: Prof. Nasau W. Senior (economist)
Commission
: a group of people authorized to carry out a duty
Recommendations of the Commission
1.
Abolish
the Partial Relief System
2.
Place all able bodied
poor in Work Houses
3.
Provide
outdoor relief
to the aged, sick, disabled,
widows with young children
4.
Coordination of the poor relief into
Poor Law Unions
5.
Introduce
Principles of Less Eligibility
6.
Central Board of Control of Poor Law
PoLE: put the poor recipients in a condition less
desirable than that of a lowest paid worker in the
community.
Results/Outcomes
1.
2/3
Reduction
in government
expenditure
on poor relief
2.
Abolishing alms houses and establishing
200 new
workhouses
.
3.
Immoralities, delinquencies, overcrowding,
family
breakup
4.
Principle of less eligibility forced people to accept any
labour
•
Desrail
:
“To be a poor in England is a Crime”
Survey
:
Poor Law Commission with assistance of medical
inspectors (Dr. Southwood Smith)
•
Major
cause of destitution
is
disease
among the lower
classes.
–
“Disease
deprived the laborer and his family of the
means of livelihood and made them
dependent
upon
public relief
.”
Disease
unhealthy housing & living conditions and by
malnutrition
•
Urban slums
: Overcrowded quarters, adolescents and children of
both sexes sleeping in one bed. Leading to promiscuity*, quarrels,
delinquency, immorality, and rapid spread of contagious disease.
•
7-10 people lived in
one room
.
•
Poorer quarters
were without water supply and drainage; drinking
water often polluted in rivers, deficient pipelines.
•
No outside
toilets
and no
sewers
in the streets.
•
Refuse thrown into the public
gutter
•
No
scavenger service
or regular
street cleaning
, occasionally done
by inmates of workhouse
•
Failure to bury the dead
unless the poor law guardians assumed the
cost of the funeral
*undiscriminating sexual behavior
DISEASE
Edwin Chadwick
:
member Poor Law Commission
•
First pioneer of public hygiene
Brought the issue to the
parliament
•
Developed a
program
of protection against
contagious diseases
by
sanitary
provisions for
water system
,
sewage
, and
drainage
.
•
Advocated
establishment of parks and flower gardens
for the
recreation of the population.
•
Free public vaccination
against cholera, typhus, and smallpox was
introduced in 1840 (thanks to Chadwick’s insistence)
•
Public Health Act of 1848
, established General Board of Health
–
Fight against epidemic,
–
Improvement of housing conditions in slums
–
Establishment of sanitation
BOARD
: a group of people chosen to make executive or
managerial decisions for an organization
The 1834 Poor Law Reforms in England led to the establishment of workhouses and changes in relief systems to address poverty. With recommendations to abolish the old relief system, focus shifted to providing outdoor relief to specific vulnerable groups and promoting the Principle of Less Eligibility. The reforms aimed to reduce government expenditure, establish new workhouses, and tackle issues like overcrowding and family breakdown. The survey highlighted disease as a major cause of destitution and dependency on public relief, emphasizing the impact of unhealthy living conditions and malnutrition, particularly in urban slums.
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Presentation Transcript
Poor Law Reforms, 1834 Imran Ahmad Sajid, PhD Source: Walter Friedlander. (1968). Introduction to Social Welfare. pp.23-27
1. Rising Tax Rates Disadvantages of Partial Relief System 2. More Poverty and Pauperism 3. Political Opposition
Royal Commission for the Inquiring into the Administration & Practical Operation of the Poor Laws 1832 Chairman: Prof. Nasau W. Senior (economist) Report: 1. The partial relief system failed to bring to work the children and able bodied poor 2. It made them permanent beggars 3. Tax is abused by farmers/landlords, and manufacturers etc
1. PRS failed to bring to work the children and able bodied poor Royal Commission for the Inquiring into the Administration & Practical Operation of the Poor Laws-- 1832 2. It made them permanent beggars Report 3. Tax is abused by the farmers/landlords, and manufacturers etc Chairman: Prof. Nasau W. Senior (economist) Commission: a group of people authorized to carry out a duty
1. Abolish the PRS 6. Central Board of Control of Poor Laws 2. Place all able bodied poor in workhouses RECOMMENDATIONS 3. Provide outdoor relief only to the aged, disable, widows with young children 5. Introducing Principle of Less Eligibility 4. Coordination of the poor relief into Poor Law Unions PoLE: put the poor recipients in a condition less desirable than that of a lowest paid worker in the community.
Results/Outcomes 1. 2/3 Reduction in government expenditure on poor relief 2. Abolishing alms houses and establishing 200 new workhouses. 3. Immoralities, delinquencies, overcrowding, family breakup 4. Principle of less eligibility forced people to accept any labour Desrail: To be a poor in England is a Crime
Survey: Poor Law Commission with assistance of medical inspectors (Dr. Southwood Smith) Major cause of destitution is disease among the lower classes. Disease deprived the laborer and his family of the means of livelihood and made them dependent upon public relief.
unhealthy housing and living conditions and by malnutrition DISEASE Urban Slums Overcrowded, both sexes sleep together in one bed Immoralities, promiscuity, quarrels, delinquency, and rapid spread of contagious disease Poor Quarters No water supply and drainage; polluted drinking water of the rivers, deficient pipelines No outside toilets and no sewers in the streets Refuse thrown into public gutters No scavenger service or regular street cleaning Dead Bodies Failure to bury the dead unless the poor law guardians assumed the cost of funeral
Edwin Chadwick: member Poor Law Commission First pioneer of public hygiene Brought the issue to the parliament Developed a program of protection against contagious diseases by sanitary provisions for water system, sewage, and drainage. Advocated establishment of parks and flower gardens for the recreation of the population. Free public vaccination against cholera, typhus, and smallpox was introduced in 1840 (thanks to Chadwick s insistence) Public Health Act of 1848, established General Board of Health Fight against epidemic, Improvement of housing conditions in slums Establishment of sanitation BOARD: a group of people chosen to make executive or managerial decisions for an organization
