4.1 - 1890s to liberals

did the concept of a welfare state exist in the 1890s?

no

why?

the government followed laissez-faire prinicples

there was minimal government help in the form of workhouses, so…

most help from the poor was from charities or self help

why did people believe that you shouldn’t help the poor?

poverty was their own fault and helping them would just encourage their own laziness

how did the work of humanitarian/researchers highlight the need for a welfare state?

they highlighted the devastating impact of poverty and argued that the government needed to step in to address this issue

who conducted such research?

booth and rowntree

how did the need for economic efficiency highlight the need for a welfare state?

poor quality of life meant the next generation of workers were not fit and healthy

how did the boer war highlight the need for a welfare state?

90% of army volunteers were rejected due to poor health

what is my view on the liberals and whether or not they created a welfare state?

the liberal reforms laid the groundwork for a welfare state but did not successfully establish one

why?

many of their reforms were flawed and needed to built upon but they were the first to establish the principle of state intervention

what is an example of this?

the 1906 free school meals act

the act was the first time the government acknowledged…

a responsibility for looking after children however it was not compulsory meaning that health declined in between terms

what is another example of this?

the 1908 pensions act

whilst the government took 1 million people out of poverty by fully covering the cost…

many were excluded from the scheme and payments were lower than what rowntree had suggested

how does the national insurance act of 1911 also demonstrate government incompetency?

it acknowledged that unemployment had many complex causes and offered a safety net but did not cover most workers, and the ones it did cover received a very small sum of money