Topic 1: Liberal Reforms

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Topic 1 Liberal Reforms

• Problem of Poverty in 1900
• Changing attitudes
• Liberal Reforms
• Assessment of reforms

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Britain in 1900

• Rich and Powerful country due to industrial
  revolution
• Politics dominated by Conservative and Liberal
  Parties
• wealth in the hands of small group

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Working class housing in Liverpool in the early
1900s
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The Gorbals Small children by midden in back
court
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Role of the government

• laissez faire- the state should not interfere
  in the lives of the people or in the economy
• Small role to
• Provide limited education, health, help for the
  poor control of workplace

Tenement housing in Whittle Street, Liverpool
1902
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The Poor Law System
http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1917452.stm

• Government did not provide much help to poor
  people
• Help for the poor was called relief
• Outdoor reliefhelp given in their home
• Indoor relief help given in the workhouse or
  poorhouse

Tonbridge workhouse women's ward, c. 1897
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Tonbridge workhouse female inmates 1897.
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The Poor Law System

• You had to prove you were poor
• Life was made harsh so that it was less likely to
  be chosen over the lowest paid job
• No help for able bodied (fit)

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Brighton Workhouse
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Was the Poor House successful?

• Could not cope with the rising unemployment or
  poverty
• Hated by the poor most shunned the poor house
  (90)
• Work inside was boring, disciplined
• Families separated

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Why was it so harsh?

• Should encourage the poor to look for work
• Forced to look after themselves
• Those in poverty must be idle, spending to much
  or drunk
• http//www.workhouses.org.uk/

Close, No. 157 Bridgegate, Glasgow