History 1.6 - Whitechapel, c1870-1900: crime, policing and the inner city

what were 4 of the main issues related to in Whitechapel? (and what is the acronym)

PASS - Poverty, Accommodation + housing, Sanitation, Social problems

Why were jobs often unstable in Whitechapel?

Many relied on temporary jobs - just for the day. Men would have to turn up first thing in the morning in hopes to pick up daily work and it was not guaranteed.

What were the slum areas in Whitechapel also known as?

Rookeries

What was the average living space for each person in Whitechapel?

About 2.3 square metres

How many people were homeless in Whitechapel?

About 1,000 people

What was the workhouse and who used it?

A place where desperate homeless people could find a bed; conditions were terrible and inmates were treated like prisoners and criminals.

What was overcrowding like in 'doss houses' on Dean Street?

Over 30 people often lived in each one

What were houses in Whitechapel like?

Often disgusting; toilets were outdoors, and people used pots and buckets indoors

What caused heavy pollution in East London?

Westerly winds brought pollution from factories; on bad days visibility was extremely low

What diseases were common in Whitechapel slums?

Typhus and tuberculosis

How was sanitation in Whitechapel?

Very poor; sewers often ran onto streets and the smell was atrocious, especially in summer

Why were crime rates high in Whitechapel?

People often stole just to afford a night's accommodation

Why was prostitution common in crowded areas?

Many women had no other job options; attacks on them were regular

What was street violence like in Whitechapel?

Common, especially around pubs; fights broke out frequently and many people were alcoholics

How many people lived in one house on average during the 1880s?

more than 7

How much of Whitechapel used lodging houses?

they were used by about a quarter of the population

What were the responses of the government to improve conditions in WC? (and the acronym)

PAW - Peabody Estate, Artisans' Dwelling Act, Workhouses

Who built the Peabody Estate and when was it opened?

built by a charity called the Peabody Trust, opened in 1881

what did the Peabody Estate consist of?

11 blocks of flats

what was a pro of the Peabody Estates and what was a con?

Pro: they were affordable for a worker on the average wage and were much better than most other WC housing.

Con: The estate replaced an area of slum housing, where some of the poorest Londoners lived. The estate would have been too expensive for the poorest Londoners.

when was the Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Act passed?

1875

what did the Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Act do?

Forced the owners of slum houses to sell them to the local council. The housing was then meant to be demolished and redeveloped by either the council itself or would be sold to a business that would do this.

When was the Poor Law Amendment Act passed?

1834

what did the Poor Law Amendment Act do?

forced all local authorities to open a workhouse. The poor could get meals and a bed but were treated very harshly. For example, they had to do pointless hard labour.

What was an example of a workhouse in Whitechapel?

the South Grove Workhouse

why were wages so low in whitechapel?

many workers, few jobs

what were the 4 main employers in wc?

the bell foundry

the docks (taking goods off/ on ships)

sweatshops

railway construction

The environment of Whitechapel was _________ to crime. Why?

conducive

Poverty led to desperation

Alcoholism was widespread

Middle class people lived nearby, could steal from them

When did Irish immigration mostly happen?

1840s and 1850s, mainly after the potato famine of the 1840s.

Why did Irish immigration happen?

Because the potato famine caused starvation in Ireland.

Why did Irish immigrants compete with poorer English residents?

They accepted low wages for labouring jobs, undercutting English workers.

What jobs did Irish immigrants often take?

They often worked as 'navvies' (navigators) doing low-skilled labour in London.

When did Jewish immigration mostly happen?

Mostly after 1881, following the assassination of Russian Tsar Alexander II.

Why did Jewish immigration happen?

Because Jews were persecuted by the Russian government after 1881.

What effect did Jewish business success have on English workers?

It made many poorer English people resentful.

How did Jewish immigrants affect existing English businesses?

They were accused of making cheap clothes and shoes in sweatshops and undercutting prices by cheating.

Why were English people jealous of Jewish workers?

Because poor Jews found work quickly through Jewish-run businesses.

How did Irish immigrants affect housing in Whitechapel?

They competed with poorer English residents for houses, raising rental costs.

Why was housing competition a problem for the poor?

Because rent increased and the poor couldn't afford the higher costs.

How did Jewish immigrants affect housing in Whitechapel?

They competed with poorer English residents and often lived in separate communities.

Why did Jews live in separate communities?

Because of racism and feeling more comfortable with other Jews.

How many Jews lived in Whitechapel in some areas?

Up to 95% of the residents were Jewish in certain areas.

What effect did Jewish segregation have?

It created suspicion as Jews were seen as secretive, different, and separate.

What religion were most Irish immigrants?

They were mostly Catholics.

Why did English Protestants distrust Irish Catholics?

There were long-standing suspicions of Catholics due to past persecution.

What political views did many Irish migrants hold?

They supported greater freedom for Ireland or even total independence.

What made Jews stand out in appearance and behaviour?

They dressed differently, spoke different languages, and lived with other Jews.

Why did Jews speak different languages?

Because they had just arrived from Russia or Europe.

Why were Jews slow to learn English?

Because they often worked and lived among other Jews.

How did Jewish customs differ from the English?

They had different customs and traditions, like resting on Saturdays instead of Sundays.

what is anarchism?

they were against the idea of an organised society ran by a government

what is socialism?

higher taxes should be imposed on the rich to redistribute money to the poor. Extreme socialists wanted to get rid of capitalism

who were though to be socialists and anarchists?

People stereotyped Jews as mostly being socialists/ anarchists

what was the Worker's Friend and when was it set up?

a socialist newspaper set up by a group of Jews 1885. The newspaper was in Yiddish, making it seem even more secretive and suspicious.

How did newspapers treat anarchism?

People overreacted about anarchism and its links to crime because newspapers sensationalised it. There were a number of anarchist terrorist bombings in the 1890s but they were exaggerated by the media.

Both _____ and _____ were considered to be dangerous

anarchism and socialism

What was the socialist party and when was it formed? What was its main aim?

The extremist socialist Socialist Democratic Federation (SDF) was set up in 1881. Its main aim was to overthrow the capitalist government

Why was socialism considered a dangerous threat?

Radical socialists came to London from Europe because Britain was seen as a more tolerant country. To some people it seemed like Britain was a refuge for many terrorists - this was an exaggeration.

When was Bloody Sunday?

Sunday 13 November 1887