poverty and pauperism

what was outdoor relief

giving money, food, or clothes to the poor rather than placing them in an institution

what was indoor relief

use of poorhouses to house the poor

how many poor houses were there by 1776

more than 2000 containing between 20 and 50 inmates

what was the Gilbert’s Act

only those who physically could not work through age, sickness or infirmity should be admitted to poorhouses

what was the Speenhamland system

outdoor relief

given an amount of money as poor relief (linked to the price of bread)

what was the Roundsman system

outdoor relief

paupers auctioned for work to local farmers with employer paying 80% of wages and parish paying 20%

why was there pressure to reform the old poor law (pre 1834)

-population growth created an overwhelming demand for relief

-outdated system

-mechanisation reduced employment opportunites

-very localised as each parish acted independently

issues with the Speenhamland system

encouraged large families as you would be given more money

inflation meant the price of bread rose (corn laws) so families would receive more money

issues with the Roundsman system

incentivised employers to sack current workers in favour of cheap labour

when was the new poor law introduced

1834

what was the concept of ‘less eligibility’

only the most desperate would ask relief - the worst job would be preferable to the workhouse

how many parishes and unions were there

15,000 parishes

600 unions (each had a workhouse)

where was the poor law commission based

Somerset House

‘guardians of the poor law’

local men funded and governed each workhouse

what did Paine believe

-believed poverty was not the fault of the people but of the government for failing to support them

-encouraged self improvement

-wanted child benefits of four pounds per year for u14s for 250,000 destitute families