depth 1 - paupers and pauperism

in 1800s what % of the population were receiving poor relief

28%

key features of the Old Poor Law

. relief classified into 3 groups

. reliant on parishes to manage poor relief

. paid for by ratepayers

3 categories of pauper

able-bodied poor - physically able to work but unemployed

deserving poor - old, sick, etc. - those unable to work

undeserving poor - criminals, beggars - poor due to personal failings - often sent to houses of correction

outdoor relief

relief providing aid while allowing paupers to remain in their own homes

indoor relief

relief providing aid in institutions (workhouse / poorhouse)

parish

unit of government responsible for providing relief

advantages of outdoor relief

. flexible —> allowed short term relief through hard times or seasonal unemployment

. variable to local conditions

. less stigma than workhouses

. encouraged economic participation - ie. individuals were still trying to work / buying goods, etc.

. prevented social unrest as paupers were able to afford basic necessities

disadvantages of outdoor relief

. encouraged dependency as know they have relief to tie them over / poverty trap

. high cost - by 1819 = £8m per year

. didn’t solve the root cause of poverty just found a short term solution

advantages of indoor relief

. reduced pressure on outdoor relief

. provided support for the deserving poor

. workhouses provided employment opportunities

disadvantages of indoor relief

. didn't solve the root cause of poverty

. social stigma

. poor conditions in workhouses

how effectively was the old poor law functioning before 1834 - conclusion

somewhat effective:

. provided relief to the vulnerable, maintained social stability, categorising allowed catering for individual circumstances

BUT

. financially unsustainable, growing urbanisation + industrialisation was increasing pressure, didn’t solve root cause of the problem

3 outdoor relief systems

speenhamland system

labour rate

roundsman system

speenhamland system

subsidised low wages

based on the price of bread and the number of dependencies in a family

advantages of the speenhamland system

. prevented starvation during economic crisis

. allowed and encouraged employment

. adaptable for individuals and economic times

disadvantages of the speenhamland system

. argument it encouraged larger families

. dependency

. encouraged low wages

roundsman system

. way of making sure there was always work for each able bodied pauper by sending them in rotation to local farms

. wages would be paid partly by farmers and partly by parish —> reduced the burden of wages

advantages of the roundsman system

. provided work and decreased dependency on relief

. reduced costs for employers

disadvantages of roundsman system

. kept wages artificially low as parish would make up difference

. farmers exploded —> wanted to use this rather than full time workers

. lack of independent employment

labour rate

minimum wage set by the parish

. employers had a choice of paying the labour rate or poor ratesa

advantages of the labour rate

encouraged land owners to employ workers rather than fund relief

prevented wages being dependent on the parish

knatchbulls act year

1723

intentions of knatchbulls act

. workhouse test —> meant only those willing to accept discipline of the workhouse would receive assistance

evaluation

. differentiated between genuinely desperate - deterrent relief

. saved ratepayers money

. increased hardship for paupers

Gilbert’s act year

1782

intentions of Gilbert’s act

. attempted to provide a more humane method of relief

. allowed parishes to combine to form unions and share workhouses

evaluation

. 900 parishes combined to form 67 unions

. HOWEVER not a mandatory act so implementation varied

stourges-bourne acts years

1818, 1819

stourges-bournes acts

reformed the way relief was administered

1818: created select vestries - committees responsible for relief distribution