G144 week 2 Charles booth and mapping poverty

What was the pivotal role of cartography in social investigation during the 19th and early 20th century?

It transformed public perception of poverty and influenced social reform through detailed mapping.

Who conducted the monumental surveys of poverty in London?

Charles Booth.

What did Booth's studies reveal about the nature of poverty?

Poverty was predominantly a result of under- or unemployment, rather than personal shortcomings.

What was the relationship between Hume's work and Booth's studies?

Hume's maps of Liverpool published in 1858 were precursors to Booth's later surveys.

What did Charles Booth classify in his poverty maps?

He classified areas based on income and employment patterns, using a color scheme to represent different poverty levels.

What significant finding did Booth's initial survey reveal about the poverty rate in London?

He found that 33% of Londoners lived in poverty, which was higher than previous estimates.

How did Booth's mapping influence public and political perspectives on poverty?

It provided a visual confirmation of poverty's extent and suggested areas needing intervention.

What methodological innovations are attributed to Booth's work?

The combination of direct observation and statistical rigor in social mapping.

What did Hume's 1858 pamphlet focus on regarding poverty?

It detailed the relationship between church attendance and poverty, including street-by-street statistics.

How did physical conditions of housing influence poverty according to Booth?

He recognized that poor living conditions and overcrowding directly impacted poverty levels.

What impact did Booth's surveys have on urban policy and planning?

His work advocated for comprehensive construction and reconstruction policies in urban areas.

What was Booth’s perspective on the urban environment's role in poverty?

He viewed the physical environment's conditions as instrumental in shaping social outcomes.

What legacy did Charles Booth leave behind in social science?

He established empirical methods for investigating poverty, influencing future sociological research.

What demographic did Booth’s work reveal within the East End working classes?

They were found to be far more diverse than typically assumed.

How did the design of urban spaces contribute to poverty according to the analysis of Booth’s maps?

Urban layouts often isolated poorer areas from the rest of the city, exacerbating social issues.

What did Booth's maps illustrate about the distribution of poverty in relation to wealthier areas?

Poverty-stricken streets were often located close to affluent areas, highlighting spatial inequalities.

What did Booth aim to achieve through his poverty mapping techniques?

To provide quantifiable and visual evidence to support social reform and poverty alleviation efforts.